Oregon NORML Boardmember Linda Mason demonstrates use of a Volcano Vaporizer on local TV news
As the executive director of NORML, the leading lobbying organization for pot smokers’ rights, Allen St. Pierre gets asked a lot of strange questions. But the one he’s been getting lately is, “What is that metal thing they use on Weeds?”
The answer is the Volcano Vaporizer, a smokeless inhalation device that has recently shown up on both the Showtime series and HBO’s Bored to Death, in which a sexy stoner played by Jenny Slate lures Jason Schwartzman into her bedroom to test one out. (“Just squeeze down on that nipple and suck in the vapors,” she coaches him.) It’s even used at the renowned Chicago restaurant Alinea, albeit unconventionally, to pipe aromas of nutmeg and coffee to diners as they eat dessert.
“If you live in Ohio, or if you’re a baby boomer who has no problem with cannabis, and you see them using that, you’re asking, ‘What’s going on?’” says Pierre. “There’s a veneer of sophistication to it. This is not your daddy’s bong.”
Indeed, the Vaporizer wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. With its sleek, brushed-aluminum chassis and digital temperature gauge, it could be mistaken for a device that steams milk. And, perhaps not incidentally, the $700 Volcano is growing in popularity with the cappuccino crowd—highly educated strivers who demand nothing but the best. “If you’re buying this, you are either an aficionado, or you are well-read in the best ways to deliver cannabis to your body as science currently tells us,” says Pierre. “Otherwise you’d have to have a lot of vanity to drop this much money.”
If you’re going to be a lifelong cannabis user, then the investment in a good vaporizer is a must. One of the points that prohibitionists make about pot smoking is that smoke contains harmful carcinogens. While the data currently don’t support marijuana smoking as a serious cancer risk, inhaling any smoke from burning vegetable matter isn’t exactly healthy. So a cannabis user looking to maintain optimum health should definitely get a vaporizer. In 2001, NORML and MAPS teamed up to run a scientific study on vaporization and found that vaporization “produced THC at a temperature of 185° C. (365° F.) while completely eliminating three measured toxins – benzene, a known carcinogen, plus toluene and naphthalene. Carbon monoxide and smoke tars were both qualitatively reduced by the vaporizer…”
Also, considering what marijuana costs, it makes economic sense to invest in a good vaporizer. In 2003, NORML and MAPS again found that “the Volcano® vapor was remarkably clean, consisting 95% of THC with traces of cannabinol (CBN), another cannabinoid. In contrast over 111 different components appeared in the gas of the combusted smoke, including a half dozen known [carcinogens]. Non-cannabinoids accounted for as much as 88% of the total gas content of the smoke.” In other words, when you’re toking up vapor, 95% of it is getting you high; when you’re toking up smoke, 12% of it is getting you high. Your weed purchases will last much longer with vaporization.
By 2007, mainstream medical researchers are confirming what we’ve known for a decade: vaporization is safe and effective. You can see demonstration of vaporization from Oregon NORML’s Cannabis Café in news video that appeared last week on local Portland TV news.
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OK for the best info on vapourizers, head over to the fuckcombustion.com forums. It’s absolutely THE site dedicated to the discussion of vapes and vapourization, and it has all the top vape geeks residing there (who are very friendly and helpful), and a truckload of posts on pretty much any vape you can get (at least all the reputable models – if it’s not there then forget it).
And there’s also plenty of info on the art and science of vapourization in general. You’ll arrive as a clueless noob and leave as an expert.
“Besides, health reasons and bud efficiency be damned, I plain enjoy smoking.”
Ahhh, yes! Remember when tobacco was OK? God, how fantastic it could sometimes be to smoke good polm hashish with proper Dutch apple or cherry rolling tobacco! Alas…
Yeah, I’ve got to agree w/ you there, McD. The main reason I’ve never bought a vaporizer is solely because their prices. As of right now, I’m just an occasional toker who already has a collection of smoking devices, rolling papers, and blunt wraps. I just don’t buy or smoke enough bud to warrant me buying a good vape. Now if a friend wanted to gift one to me… well, that’s a whole different story.
Even during my college years when I was a heavy toker and I had the opportunities and disposable income to waste on one, the choice always came down either: A) drop a couple hundred and buy a vaporizer; or B) buy more cannabis. Guess which decision I always came to?
I do realize that there are more cheaper vaporizer brands and models besides the ever so popular yet ridiculously expensive Volcano, and God knows I’ve tried a number of them. But nothing seems to do the trick like the higher-end products and I’m just not willing to purchase one.
Besides, health reasons and bud efficiency be damned, I plain enjoy smoking.
I was that kid in college that had a Volcano which was awesome, except for my friend that had to sell me it because he owed too much money to drug dealers. I split it 3 ways with my two roommates. We payed $83 per person!! $250 total and it was in perfect condition. It still is my old roommate uses it ever day. We were so lucky haha.
That’s true.
Thanks for the Magic Box tip – very interesting!
The thing for me, though, is I have no way of getting one: we have no headshops here (Really – none!) and it would be stopped by customs in the post, leading to a representative of the peace and justice authorities waiting for me at the post office to come collect it.
Oh, yes, some of the freedoms you enjoy enjoy in America, like the quasi-legal status of cannabis, are not for the likes of others. In this case, cannabis prohibition and its continued enforcement being almost entirely the result of pressure from the US/UN/UK Axis, the hypocrisy of Americans enjoying the quasi-legal status of cannabis (headshops, unfettered postal access, etc.) does much to damage the not-very-healthy moral status of the US abroad. Hypocrisy is universally despised. If your politicians really wanted to save some of your tax money on wars by making their opinion influential enough to get what they want done without killing people, playing a leading role in sorting out the cannabis stalemate would be an excellent place to start.
Also, I know there are cheaper ones, but $100 still ain’t cheap!
Maybe I’ll get one posted to me at my mother’s next time I go there (although it’s unlikely, because of the money).
Um the Volcano is just one vapourizer – the most expensive one. There are plenty of excellent vapourizers around at a fraction of the cost. Look up these ones: Da Buddha, PurpleDays, Myrtlezap, VaporBrothers – and for a portable you can hit *anywhere* without suspicion, the Magic Flight Launch Box (you try smoking a joint in a crowded cinema).
I’d love to have a vaporiser. I’m not stupid; I understand why it’s a good idea. In fact, if I wasn’t afraid of having it confiscated by those who know what’s best for us, I’d even save my pennies for a long time and get one. If/when those who know what’s best for us take it upon themselves to teach me a lesson, however, imagine how much more difficult it would be to come to terms with them using €500+ of my long-saved (if not hard-earned) money to teach me the lesson (and how much more pleasure doing so would give them) than it would if they had little more than a pipe, whatever sentimental value it may have, and a packet of skins to hurt me with.
will be waiting for part 2
I’m betting she’s a toker. Any takers?
She probably won’t admit it, but she had the stones to propose it, so it wouldn’t hurt her politically…I think.
Umm, if anyone wants to be my secret santa this year…anyone?
Wow! I did not know that. Excellent article. 95% vs. 12% Wow!