Written by Brandon Topp

For those of us who love to consume cannabis, shopping today can feel incredibly overwhelming.

If you are wondering about the differences between smoking flower and vaping THC oil — this piece is designed to shed a little bit of light based on my own personal experience and those reported by customers, writers, and the cannabis community at large.

Check out our selection of high-quality Vape Pens and THCa Pre-Rolls at the Mood Shop today.

Table of Contents

• Important Cannabis Realities To Consider

• The High You Might Get From Smoking Flower

  • THCa Flower To Try Today

• The High You Might Get From Vaping THC

  • THCa Vapes You Can Buy Today

• FAQs on a Flower High vs Vaping

• Discover

Vape Pen vs. Flower High: Important Things To Consider

It's arguably impossible to make any blanket statements on the experience you might have vaping cannabis oil vs smoking flower. There are just too many variables that exist within each of these categories.

Both cannabis flower and vape products contain a wide range of variability based on things like the specific strain, concentration of THC, as well as the presence of other chemicals or active ingredients.

Because you can find examples of flower that provide a more intense high than a specific cannabis concentrate, and vice versa, general and common differences between the two cannot be expected to be consistent across all products and experiences.

This guide is designed to look at key differences between smoking flower and vaping concentrates on helping buyers make more informed decisions.

We also want to make clear upfront that each user can have a different experience consuming any form of cannabis based on endless variables — i.e., personal tolerance, preference, product quality, growing conditions, age, storing conditions, etc.

The High You Might Get From Smoking Weed

Cannabis flower is the point of origin. Good, old-fashioned buds with greens, oranges, and purples broken down, ground, and enjoyed via a joint, pipe, or bong provide a full-spectrum flavor and high that is, in my opinion, standalone from any experience with concentrates or edibles.

Depending on the cultivation practices, cannabis flower can be designed to highlight specific cannabinoids — i.e., THCa flower versus THC flower.

People who enjoy smoking flower more often point to the entourage effect, which is the high that comes from the cumulative effects of all of the cannabis plant's natural cannabinoids.

For this same reason, smoking flower tends to produce a more dynamic and rich flavor than anything you might enjoy from vaporizers.

Cannabis enthusiasts who prefer smoking because of the entourage effect and more natural flavor are likely to prefer live resin and live rosin cannabis products over distillates, which tend to have a more neutral flavor and precise high.

THCa Flower To Try Today

You can enjoy yourself smoking Mood Flower because it's all been tested by third-party labs to ensure it's of the utmost quality. To learn more, you can review a detailed certificate of analysis (COA) on any product page.

New Genius Glow THCa Flower

Those who love smoking cannabis flower will want to check out this 50/50 hybrid. Smoking these buds is a treat because of the rich pool of terpenes like pinene and ocimene present throughout the cannabis flower.

Grab a gram of Genius Glow for only $13 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.

Super Lemon Haze

If you're more for smoking than vapor, we recommend this Super Lemon Haze. Its focused design is the product of an 80/20 sativa-dominant hybrid base. Its bright, citrusy, and delicious.

Get an eighth of Super Lemon Haze for $40 today. Subscribe and save 15%.

The High You Might Get From Vaping Cannabis Oil

Vaping THC can feel extremely similar to a flower high and extremely different depending mainly on the type of concentrate you're consuming.

The world of THC concentrates generally breaks down into distillates vs live resins.

Distillates are designed to feature high concentrations of a specific cannabinoid — i.e., THC — to focus the high on its effects.

A given distillate could often have more THC than your typical flower or live resin, which could result in a more intense high.

On the flip side, by reducing the number of other cannabinoids present in a concentrate, you could miss out on some of the effects and flavors that come from the plant material and its terpenes.

When you see live resin and live rosin cannabis concentrates, it's been my experience that those are most similar to the flavors and highs that typically come with smoking cannabis flower.

The potency and concentration of live resin and live rosin concentrates can still lead to a more intense high because each hit, in theory, should be stronger and deliver more cannabis than a pull from a joint or a bong rip of herb.

THCa Vapes You Can Buy Today

Mood is home to a high-end selection of vape pens featuring both distillates and THCa live resin. Here are some favorites.

THCa Purple Afghani Disposable Vape Pen

Each of our draw-activated disposable vaporizers features a rechargeable battery so that you can get the most out of it. This popular example can produce a dreamy and comforting high, and its live resin concentrate features a nice balance of 52% THCa and 16% CBD for great vaping.

Typically, this live resin vape pen costs $60, though you can save 15% with a subscription.

THCa Gelato Disposable Vape Pen

Every Mood vape pen comes with a full gram of THC oil for lengthy enjoyment. This Gelato Vape Pen comes with THCa live resin and a 4.6/5 star average rating across 60 reviews.

Grab a THCa live resin vape pen for only $60, or subscribe for 15% off.

Hero Dose Delta-8 THC Blueberry Disposable Vape Pen

Experiment with a different kind of vape pen with Mood's well-reviewed Delta-8 option. Designed for daytime use, this is one of our vaporizers that features a distillate blend of HHC, Delta-8 THC, THCp, and HHCp.

Grab one of these distillate vaporizers from the Mood Shop today.

FAQs on a Flower High vs Vaping

Q: What are the key differences between a cannabis flower high and vaping cannabis?

A: Flower highs tend to be lighter and more full-bodied (in terms of both effects and flavors). The cumulative feeling and taste of smoking flower is commonly referred to as the entourage effect.

Because some concentrates tend to highlight specific cannabinoids, and all of them reduce their compounds down to an oil-based form — the smell, feelings, and texture of an experience of smoking will be somewhat reduced.

Vape highs can be more intense than flower highs because of higher concentrations of THC. They can also be less intense depending on the design and aim. CBD vape pens, for example, often feature no THC for a non-psychoactive time.

Q: If you had to choose one big difference between smoking flower and vaping cannabis oil, what would it be?

A: Vaping and electronic cigarettes have taken off in recent years because of their convenience.

Smoking creates smoke, often harsh smoke that can linger and affect those who you share spaces with or leave you smelling a bit stronger than you'd like.

While the flavor of a bong rip is unmatched, it has its time and place, and regular users often prefer the convenience and discreet nature of vaping.

Q: How do I unclog my vape pen?

Trying to consume THC with a clogged vape pen can be extremely annoying. For some in-depth details on how to deal with this, check out this post on How To Unclog a Cart or Disposable Vape Pen from the Mood Blog.

Q: What's the best way to consume cannabis?

A: There is no "best way." It's all about preference. As I mentioned above, cannabis can inspire a wide range of effects and experiences.

Some people prefer edibles because they don't require inhaling anything into your lungs.

Other people prefer vaporizers because they are a more discreet form of enjoyment.

Vaping can also feel smoother than smoking, depending on the quality of the active ingredients and the temperature at which you're vaping.

And then many people prefer flower to vaping because of things like the entourage effect, the ritual of rolling a joint, or the feeling of pulling the smoke into their lungs.

The only answer to this question is to figure out what's best for you.

Discover More Cannabis With Mood

Beyond vape pens, pre-rolls, and cannabis flower — Mood is your online destination for a wide variety of Farm Bill-compliant cannabis products. Check out the Mood Shop today and discover a wide variety of edibles, cannabis concentrates, and more to order today.

Prices subject to change.