Legal weed in North America is expected to generate $22 billion in 2021, with help from the ever-growing vaporizer market.
Vaping is an alternative to smoking that involves inhaling vapor from an electronic device. Some research suggests vaping is less harmful than lighting up because it doesn't require igniting a material and inhaling carcinogens along with it.
As the industry heats up, so does the competition. There's a range of devices to fit every consumer's needs, whether they prioritize ease of use, portability, or style. With so many options out there, Business Insider set out to find the very best vaporizers.
We put together a panel of industry experts and asked them for recommendations in six categories: best for the beginner, the user-on-the-go, the user who blazes at home, the marijuana concentrates fan, the buyer on a budget, and the techie. We used their responses as well as anecdotal evidence and our own experiences to come up with the list below.
SEE ALSO: The way people buy legal marijuana will change in 2019 — here's what to expect
For the beginner: Alchemy Vaporizer Pen by Dark Heart
Price:~$40 per replacement cartridge
Taking a hit from a vape pen is often as intuitive as placing your lips on it and inhaling.
"I recommend beginners start off with vape pens since they are inexpensive and super easy to use," says David Hua, cofounder and CEO of medical marijuana company Meadow.
Hua is a fan of the Alchemy Vaporizer Pen, which uses cartridges filled with potent marijuana oil. The company behind the device names each botanical-infused pod after the effect it cultivates: "Relax" contains a soothing blend of lavender, chamomile, and an indica strain to calm the senses, while "Awaken" uses citrus, mint, and a sativa strain to invigorate the user.
"These experience-based oils are especially helpful for those who are new to cannabis and don't yet know the effects of particular strains," Hua says.
Dark Heart's cartridges also work with most generic pens, which retail for about $10.
For the on-the-go user: The Mighty by Storz & Bickel
Price:$399
The Mighty by Storz and Bickel might look like an old-school walkie-talkie more than a vaporizer, but the portable device has merits where it counts.
Max Simon, CEO and founder of Green Flower Media, says the Mighty offers the "highest quality in terms of functionality and precision."
Joe Dolce, author of "Brave New Weed," agrees: "The Mighty is not the most beautiful, inexpensive, or easily concealed vaporizer on the market, but it delivers the most generous and flavorful vape hit with low draw resistance of any I've tried."
Experienced users will enjoy the precision temperature control, which allows them to ramp up the effects of specific terpenes (oils) and cannabinoids (chemical compounds), Dolce explains. Plus, rich vapor flavor and a long-lasting battery make the Mighty a top performer.
For the user who blazes at home: Volcano Classic by Storz & Bickel
Price:$479
The Volcano Classic takes the cake in the tabletop vaporizer category. The device debuted in the mid-2000s and quickly garnered fans for delivering heavy hits with consistency.
Manufactured by hand in Germany, the Volcano Classic works by heating up loose-leaf material packed into a chamber, which causes an attached balloon to fill with vapor. The user closes a valve that seals the balloon, removes the bag, and inhales from it to get high.
"The bags this vaporizer fills are a hit at any social event," writes Brandon Siddall, head budtender at top marijuana dispensary Caliva, and Adam Smith, purchasing manager, in an email. "But on a nice, low setting with just a little material, they are also perfect for a solo relaxation session after work."
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