How to Customize Your High with a Vaporizer

What if you could control the type of high you get without even changing the strain you’re smoking? This is already possible, and in this article, we're going to show you how. Created with DaVinci.

Rob Hoffman

Most cannabis consumers try to customize their high by carefully choosing strains—a heady sativa in the morning, a hybrid strain to get over the midday slump, and a heavy indica before bed. But what if you could control the type of high you get without changing the strain you’re smoking? This is already possible, with technology you’ve probably already used if not own: vaporizers.

Vaporizers offer the ultimate control over your high, as they allow you to tap into the different cannabinoids and terpenes that your cannabis flower offers by switching the temperature that you heat it at. That’s because different cannabinoids—like THC, CBD, and THC-A—reach their boiling points at different temperatures. Therefore, by using a vaporizer to heat your cannabis flower to precise temperatures, you can activate certain effects of cannabis without getting the unwanted effects that stem other cannabinoids or terpenes.

Generally speaking, for example, lower temperatures will create a milder experience that is less likely to give you feelings of anxiety. By contrast, if you’re consuming a heavy indica strain that contains the terpene Linalool, you won’t be able to access the relaxing properties of this terpene without heating your cannabis flower to at least 388°Fahrenheit.

This high level of control over the effects of your cannabis is not possible with any other consumption method, like smoking, dabbing, or with edibles. Smoking, for example, combusts your cannabis flower at such a high temperature that it activates certain cannabis compounds like THC while completely obliterating others. If you want to tap into the full potential of your cannabis, you’ll need a device that can heat your product to precise temperatures, namely a vaporizer.

At the bottom of this article, we’ve revealed our favourite vaporizer for customizing your cannabis experience: the DaVinci IQ2. We’ve also listed the exact boiling points of cannabis’ most common terpenes and cannabinoids, detailing their effects, and the strains that contain the highest concentrations of those compounds, so you can start experimenting right away.

Below, we’ll talk about the three different temperature ranges that allow you to customize your high depending on whether you want a more clearheaded energetic experience, or something more heavy and pronounced.

How to get a more energetic high: Vaporizing at a low-temperature (290°F - 330°C)

If you’re looking for a mild, clearheaded, and energetic high, try vaporizing your cannabis flower at a lower temperature. Vaping at a temperature between 290°F – 330°C is great for those who like to consume cannabis in the morning, but don’t want to get so high as to be debilitated. If you plan to consume cannabis but still need to be productive, try vaporizing your cannabis at this lower temperature.

The closer to 290°F you are, the more subtle the effects of your cannabis product will be. For regular cannabis consumers, the high at 290°F might even feel barely noticeable. Once you cross the 315° – 320°F threshold, your cannabis flower’s THC and CBD will fully activate. If your flower contains the terpene caryophyllene, this will also activate at this temperature. Still, even up to 330°F, you can expect an extremely mellow high.

You’ll notice that at this temperature, your vapor is much thinner, and may even be barely perceptible when you exhale. You may have to take longer, slower draws at this temperature, and especially closer to 290°F, it may not feel like you’re inhaling anything at all. But trust in the process and wait at least 10 minutes to see how you feel before vaporizing more.

How to get a balanced high: vaporizing at a moderate temperature (330°F - 370°F)

If you consume cannabis every day, or regularly throughout the week, this is the recommended temperature range for you. Even though you could vape at a higher temperature, this range of 330°F – 370°F is enough heat to really tap into your flower’s psychoactive properties. Most of the cannabinoids and terpenes in your cannabis flower will be activated at this temperature.

This temperature range is perfect for spending a day in the park with friends, camping, going to the movies, or even hanging out at home. In other words you’ll be able to get the “high” you’re looking for, but you’ll reduce the risk of anxiety that some consumers experience at higher temperatures. However, two cannabis compounds that won’t be activated at this temperature are THCv and Linalool, so if you’re looking for a deeper, sedative high, consider turning your vaporizer up past 370°F

How to get a deeper, more sedative high: (370 to 445°F)

Vaporizing your cannabis flower at higher temperatures is recommended for frequent cannabis consumers who are looking for a more sedative experience, or medical users who require stronger effects. The closer you get to the 445°F mark, the more cannabis compounds you will activate, and the more powerful the effects of the “high” will be. Higher temperatures also mean much thicker vapor, so you can expect to see more prominent clouds, almost resembling smoke, when you’re around the 400°F range.

This temperature is perfect for end-of-the-night consumption, or before getting into bed with a movie. If you’re consuming a strain that contains high levels of THCV, this may also be a good temperature choice since the boiling point of this cannabinoids is 428°F/220°C.

Our Recommended Vaporizer The DaVinci IQ2:

When it comes to the ability to customize your high, not all vaporizers are created equal. While most vaporizers allow you to control temperature, the DaVinci IQ 2 also allows you to input the potency of your strain, and the device will track and report the dosage you’re getting per draw, as well as per complete session, allowing you to fully customize your high with ultimate precision.

With this function, you can add a maximum dose for your session, allowing you to safely experiment with different temperatures, while never accidentally exceeding your threshold as you get used to different types of highs and vapor densities. Once you’ve reached your desired dose, calculated based on the quantity of cannabis in your oven and strain potency, the IQ2 will give you an automatic alert.

Customizing your vapor’s smoothness and visibility with the DaVinci’s air flow dial:

The DaVinci IQ2 also uses an air flow dial to cool your vapor down to 50% of its normal temperature. This dial lets you adjust your device to reduce harshness, so you get the smoothest draw you’ve experienced out of any vaporizer. By cooling down this vapor, the result is also denser, more visible clouds. So even though your draws will feel smoother than ever, the vapor will also be more visible on exhale. For a lot of cannabis consumers, being able to see the vapor exit your mouth upon exhale is crucial because not only does it confirm that the vaporizer is working, it’s also just more fun. In other words, this cooling feature means that you are able to further customize your vaping experience in terms of flavour, temperature, vapor density, and smoothness of draw.

Enjoy the ultimate purity with the DaVinci’s industry-leading craftsmanship:

Like all DaVinci products, the IQ2 is built with medical-grade components, ensuring unparalleled purity and safety. The IQ2 is designed so that there are no plastic or metal components touching your cannabis, and that none of its components interfere with the pure taste of your cannabis vapor. With its airtight, ceramic-built air path, crafted out of zirconia, and a glass-lined, heat-not-burn oven for your cannabis product, the IQ2 allows you to get the full flavour profile of your flower or extracts.

Other great features of the DaVinci IQ2

Aside from the DaVinci IQ2’s features that allow you to customize your cannabis experience, we also recommend this vaporizer due to its superior user experience. DaVinci’s vaporizer includes a number of features that give consumers precise control and insight into their cannabis consumption. One of these features is the panel of 51 dimmable LED lights on the back of the device, which help users track the length of their draw, dosage, temperature, battery level and more.

The IQ2 is also free from loose parts that can be easily lost, and is designed to be taken on the go. So whether you’re vaping in the comfort of your home, or at the park with friends, you can still enjoy the same control and customization of your cannabis experience. It also features a more simplified airpath for easy cleaning, to ensure your device never gets clogged, and the taste of your cannabis product is never compromised.

Overall, the DaVinci IQ2 is a professional-quality, high performing vaporizer that gives the user unparalleled control over their cannabis experience. And in case you had any doubts, this device also comes with a 10 year warranty.