Smoking Cannabis
Smoking involves combusting cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke. It's the most traditional method and remains popular for its simplicity and full-spectrum flavour.
Pros: full terpene expression, ritual/experience, no batteries or devices needed, wide variety of flower strains.
Cons: produces tar and combustion byproducts, strong smell, not discreet, harder to dose precisely.
Best for: home use, experienced consumers who value the ritual, flavour enthusiasts using high-quality flower.
Vaping Cannabis
Vaping heats cannabis to release cannabinoids and terpenes as vapour without combustion. There are two main types.
510 Thread Cartridges are pre-filled oil cartridges that attach to a rechargeable battery. They're the most popular vape format. Available in distillate (high THC, mild flavour), live resin (full terpene profile from fresh-frozen cannabis), and full spectrum.
Disposable Vapes are all-in-one devices with no charging or assembly. Use them until they're empty, then recycle.
Pros: less harsh than smoking, more discreet, consistent dosing, portable.
Cons: requires batteries/charging (for 510), less full-spectrum than flower, potential for low-quality hardware.
Which Should You Choose?
For beginners: disposable vapes are the simplest entry point. One or two puffs, fast onset, no equipment.
For flavour: live resin 510 cartridges preserve the most terpenes. Dry herb vaporizers with quality flower are another excellent option.
For discretion: vapes produce less smell and dissipate quickly compared to smoke.
For home use: smoking flower offers the most authentic experience.
For budget: flower is generally cheaper per milligram of THC than vape cartridges. But vapes waste less product.