What is vaporization/thermal extraction? How does it differ from smoking?
Vaporization aka thermal extraction is an alternative to smoking (combustion), wherein the plant material is heated up to a certain temperature range to release water vapour combined with various therapeutic compounds. As the material is simply being heated and not burnt, thermal extraction aids in harm reduction by helping avoid potentially toxic and even carcinogenic compounds, for example, carbon monoxide.
The devices used for this purpose are known as dry herb vaporizers or thermal extraction devices (TEDs).
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Vaporizers/TEDs?
Advantages:
Harm reduction
No smoke
No/minimal smell
No need for mixers
No need to buy papers/roaches/lighters
Only need to remove the seeds, no need to clean twigs
Can actually taste the plant
More efficient so you can use (slightly) less herb per sesh
Works perfectly with desi landrace and even cream
Clear high (less sleepy, no or less anxiety and panic)
Can control whether you want to get buzzed or have a heavy high by changing the temperature
Leftovers (AVB) can be used to make edibles or eaten directly
Your lungs don't become a tar-coated highway
No/less throat irritation/phlegm, etc.
Easy to clean
Disadvantages:
Not suitable for large groups unless you have multiple TED or a desktop TED
TEDs and accessories/spares are expensive
Are Dry Herb Vapes legal?
The TEDs being referred to in this FAQ are dry herb TEDs which are distinct from e-cig devices (eg. Juul) as they do not use any liquids or cartridges. While e-cig devices are banned in India since 2019, there is no such restriction on dry herb TEDs. However, the ban on e-cig devices might place TEDs in a legal grey area.
Are Dry Herb Vaporisers safe?
There's no reason to believe they aren't. The health-related controversy is regarding illicit THC cartridges that have Vitamin E acetate as an ingredient. There are no health risks associated directly with dry herb vaporizers.
There are certain brands that should be avoided as they make devices in which the airpath is not isolated from components. Good TED manufacturers use high-grade materials that are safe for human use. It is important to do a bit of research about the brand before buying a device.
Is buying a TED worth it?
If you are a daily or heavy user, buying a dry herb TED can definitely be worth it. After smoking for years and years I was looking for healthier alternatives. The only realistic solution was edibles but it wasn't feasible for me to make them myself. Then I found out about thermal extraction.
Thermal extraction seemed clearly superior from a health standpoint but I was apprehensive about spending thousands of bucks on a device just for consuming the herb.
One day, I did a simple analysis to understand whether it makes sense to invest in a TED from a financial perspective. Then it clicked that buying a TED can actually save me money not just due to reduced healthcare costs but also on a day-to-day basis.
I'm a daily user so I need at least one cig daily plus a pack of papers every month.
Monthly cost of cigs: ₹17 x 30 = ₹510
Monthly cost of papers = ₹50
Total monthly expense: ₹560
Yearly expense: ₹6,720
This does not even take into account the cost of lighters and roach books. The cost of my first TED was ₹4,200, so I broke even in a few months. I used it for 4½ years and it still works.
I got a Dynavap M for ₹10,000 and will break even in around 1½ years. After that, it's all savings. If you're a torch user, add the recurring expense of butane refills for the torch. I don't have that expense because I bought an induction heater upfront. It will take me roughly 4 years to break even on the cost of Dynavap M + induction heater and I'll be using them longer than that.
Can you use TEDs for anything other than dry herb, such as cream?
While most dry herb TEDs are intended mainly for dry herb, you can extract pretty much anything with a TED as the temperature ranges required will be the same. Dry herb and cream can be loaded directly, while liquidy/melty products usually require an additional attachment (such as the Dynacoil for Dynavaps). You can also avoid using an attachment by 'sandwiching' the product within some bud.
Do Dry Herb Vapes smell?
Smell with TEDs depends on the device and the temperature.
Some TEDs put out big clouds which can make an entire room smell. Other vapes have almost no clouds and I have used this kind of vape even in a movie theatre at a low temp. Higher temps mean more clouds which equals more smell.
Even a 'smelly' TED session is nowhere near as bad as smoking because a) the smell is weak b) it's not easily recognisable c) the vapours dissipate within minutes and do not stick to walls and clothes. The room won't smell for hours and hours like after smoking.
The device itself may retain some smell of your bud, but it is not overwhelming so as to be detectable from a distance.
Where can I buy a Dry Herb Vape in India?
You could earlier order TEDs from any part of the world. I myself bought my first TED from AliExpress. Sadly, this is no longer possible as AliExpress is banned too and sellers on other platforms will not ship to India either.
There are two stores selling dry herb TEDs domestically within India:
You can also buy TEDs from abroad but only if you can have someone get one down here in personal luggage. Shipping from overseas to India is expensive due to shipping fees and customs duty, plus there is the risk of your package getting stuck at customs.
Which Vaporizer should I buy?
Globally, there is an astonishingly wide range of TEDs available. There are several factors to take into consideration while picking a TED, including:
Budget
Portability
No. of. Users
Electronic or non-electronic
In India, our choices are quite limited. I would generally recommend an electronic TED for newbies due to their ease of use, however, entry-level electronic TEDs are impossible to find in India currently. For those who want to switch from smoking to thermal extraction, the most hard-hitting and affordable device currently available is the Dynavap M.
If you are looking to buy from abroad, check the Vape Consensus Guide on r/vaporents to narrow down options as per your needs and budget. Some recommended brands are Dynavap, S&B, XMAX and HealthyRips.
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