There’s no doubt that smoking anything has risks, cannabis included. However, certain steps can help mitigate the hazards—and potentially enhance your experience at the same time.
As a heavy cannabis consumer, I’ve been smoking flower multiple times a day for years. While I’ve thankfully avoided any physical problems thus far, I will admit that weed has been hitting different lately. I’ve always been an anxious person, but lately, things have been out of control. Many times, smoking or dabbing triggers a panic attack. It’s a frustrating thing, not to mention uncomfortable.
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When I heard that dry herb vaporizer juggernauts Storz & Bickel were launching a Smokeless September challenge to measure the benefits of their wares, I was intrigued. The documented health risks associated with smoking weed, particularly those related to anxiety and mental health, are some of the main drivers of the campaign. I’ve tried many dry herb vapes in my time, but maybe now there was a real purpose.
“As a physician and harm reduction advocate, my goal is to help people consume in the safest way possible,” said Princeton-based psychiatrist Dr. David Nathan in a press release from Storz & Bickel. “Inhalation of dry herb flower allows for the fastest absorption of cannabinoids, enabling consumers to quickly and efficiently reach their optimal intake without overdoing it.”
The concept of being able to enjoy cannabis without getting too high and potentially going into a spiral drew me in. Back in the day, I pretty much only consumed cannabis using my Volcano—and I felt great. Perhaps taking a combustion break would be an interesting experiment in my new hyper-anxious reality.
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Storz & Bickel are working with several cannabis influencers on the Smokeless September campaign. I am not one of them, but I decided to play along since I’m legitimately interested in how this may (or may not) help me. I also knew I couldn’t commit to an entire month of only hitting a Volcano or hand-held Venty (judging a rosin contest at the start of the month threw that idea for a loop), but a week of vaping-only would probably work.
It’s very possible that switching to a dry herb vape won’t make any difference in my paranoia, but at this point, I’m willing to try anything. Either way, I’m sure my lungs will appreciate it.
