Vaping vs Smoking Weed: Complete Comparison Guide

The core difference between smoking and vaping comes down to one thing: temperature. Understanding this single distinction explains almost every other difference between the two methods.

Health is usually the first reason people consider switching from smoking to vaping, and it is worth understanding what the research actually says rather than relying on assumptions.

What Happens When You Smoke Cannabis

Combustion creates smoke that contains many of the same types of irritants found in tobacco smoke, including tar, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. Regular cannabis smokers often report chronic cough, increased phlegm production, and bronchial irritation. Research published in peer-reviewed journals has found that cannabis smoke contains dozens of compounds known to be irritants or potentially harmful to lung tissue.

The key distinction from tobacco is that cannabis smoke has not been conclusively linked to lung cancer in the same way tobacco has, but it can still cause respiratory discomfort, especially with heavy, long-term use. Many consumers who smoke daily report some level of respiratory symptoms.

What Happens When You Vape Cannabis

Because vaporization happens below combustion temperature, vapor contains significantly fewer of the harmful byproducts found in smoke. Some consumers who switch from smoking to vaping report reduced coughing, less throat irritation, and improved breathing comfort within weeks. Research from peer-reviewed studies suggests that vaping exposes users to fewer toxicants than smoking.

However, vaping is not without risk. The 2019 EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury) outbreak highlighted the dangers of unregulated vape products, particularly those containing vitamin E acetate as a cutting agent. This is one of the strongest arguments for purchasing only from licensed NJ dispensaries where products are lab-tested and regulated.

Long-term studies on cannabis vaping are still in early stages, so definitive conclusions about decades of vaping use are not yet available. What the current evidence suggests is that vaping exposes you to fewer combustion-related byproducts, but it is not risk-free.

One of the most common questions we get at the dispensary is whether vaping gets you higher than smoking. The answer is nuanced, but research provides some useful data points.

Research on Potency

A well-known study from Johns Hopkins University found that vaping cannabis produced stronger subjective effects than smoking the same dose, particularly in people who did not consume regularly. The participants who vaped reported more intense effects, including greater impairment on cognitive and psychomotor tasks. This suggests that vaporizers may extract and deliver cannabinoids more efficiently than combustion.

Why Vaping Can Be More Efficient

When you smoke cannabis, the high combustion temperature actually destroys a portion of the cannabinoids before you can inhale them. Estimates vary, but some researchers suggest that smoking may waste 40-60% of available THC through combustion and sidestream smoke (the smoke that drifts away between puffs). Vaporizers, by heating at lower temperatures, can extract a higher percentage of available cannabinoids from the same amount of material.

In practical terms, this means you may need less flower in a vaporizer to achieve the same effects as a joint. Many consumers who switch to dry herb vaping report using 20-40% less flower than they did when smoking. This efficiency gain is one of the biggest long-term cost advantages of vaping.

If flavor matters to you, and for many cannabis enthusiasts it is the top priority, the difference between vaping and smoking is significant. Terpenes are delicate aromatic compounds that give each strain its unique smell and taste, and they are extremely sensitive to heat.

Why Vaping Wins on Flavor

Many terpenes have boiling points well below the temperature of combustion. Myrcene vaporizes around 334 degrees Fahrenheit, limonene around 349 degrees, and linalool around 388 degrees. When you smoke cannabis at 600+ degrees, a significant portion of these terpenes are destroyed before they ever reach your taste buds. What you taste when smoking is a mix of surviving terpenes, combustion byproducts, and the general flavor of heated plant matter.

Vaporizers, operating in the 325-430 degree range, release terpenes at or near their optimal temperatures. This means you taste the actual terpene profile of the strain rather than a combustion-altered version of it. Many consumers describe the flavor from a quality vaporizer as cleaner, brighter, and more true to the strain's natural character. A strain like Granddaddy Purple with its grape and berry terpene profile tastes noticeably different (and many say better) through a vaporizer than when combusted.

To learn more about how terpenes shape the cannabis experience, our complete terpenes guide covers the major terpenes and what each one contributes.

Temperature Control Matters

One advantage of many vaporizers is the ability to set a specific temperature. This lets you target different terpenes at their ideal release points. Starting at a lower temperature and gradually increasing it during a session, sometimes called temperature stepping, lets you experience the full range of a strain's flavor before moving into the heavier, more potent territory at higher temps.

Cost is a practical factor that many comparison guides gloss over. The truth is that smoking and vaping have different cost structures, and which one is cheaper depends on your consumption habits and time horizon.

Upfront Costs

Smoking has the lowest barrier to entry. A pack of rolling papers costs a few dollars, a basic glass pipe runs $10-30, and you are ready to go. Vaping requires an initial investment in a device. Basic 510-thread batteries for vape cartridges start around $15-30. Disposable vape pens require no upfront investment beyond the pen itself. Quality dry herb vaporizers range from $100 for entry-level portable units to $300+ for premium devices with precise temperature control.

Ongoing Costs

This is where the math gets interesting. Because vaporizers extract cannabinoids more efficiently, you may use significantly less flower per session. If you currently spend $200 per month on flower for smoking, switching to a dry herb vaporizer could reduce that to $120-160 per month based on the efficiency gains most consumers report. Over a year, that is a savings of $480-960, far exceeding the cost of even a premium vaporizer.

Vape cartridges have a different cost equation. A half-gram cartridge typically runs $35-55 at NJ dispensaries, and a full gram runs $55-85. On a per-milligram-of-THC basis, cartridges are generally more expensive than flower. However, the precise dosing and zero waste can offset some of that premium for moderate consumers. Check our THC vape cartridge guide for current pricing details.

For a broader look at what cannabis costs in New Jersey, our weed pricing guide covers flower, concentrates, and edibles pricing across the state.

Smell and Odor

This is one of the biggest practical differences. Smoking cannabis produces a strong, unmistakable odor that lingers on clothing, hair, furniture, and in rooms for hours. Even smoking outdoors, the smell is noticeable at a distance and stays with you.

Vaping produces significantly less odor. Vapor dissipates faster than smoke and does not have the same clinging quality. Vape cartridges produce the least smell of any inhalation method, with the scent typically fading within minutes. Dry herb vaporizers do produce a noticeable cannabis smell during use, but it is milder than combustion and does not linger as long. If discretion matters to you, whether because of neighbors, roommates, or personal preference, vaping offers a clear advantage.

Portability and Setup

A vape pen or cartridge is about the size of a marker and requires zero setup. Click a button, inhale, and you are done. No grinding, rolling, lighting, or ash cleanup. This makes vaping significantly more convenient for on-the-go use (in legally permitted locations).

Smoking involves more of a ritual. Grinding the flower, rolling or packing, finding a lighter, and managing ash are all part of the process. Some people genuinely enjoy this ritual and find it meditative. Others find it inconvenient. Dry herb vaporizers fall somewhere in between. You still need to grind and pack the chamber, but there is no lighter or ash involved, and cleanup is simpler.

If convenience is your priority, pre-filled vape cartridges and disposable vape pens are the simplest option. If you prefer smoking but want zero prep, pre-rolls are the smoking equivalent of grab-and-go convenience.

Not all vaping devices are the same. The type of device you choose affects the experience, cost, and convenience significantly. Here are the main categories you will find at NJ dispensaries.

There is no universally correct answer. The best method depends on what you prioritize. Here are some general recommendations based on consumer type.