A THC vape and a joint on a leather background.

Flower vs. Carts: How To Choose The Right Product For You

If you’re not sure whether cannabis flower or vape cartridges are the right choice for your needs, this guide is for you. We’ll take you through the ins and outs of both of these popular cannabis products to help you determine whether you want the classic session flower offers or if you’re better off with the modern-day vaping experience. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find both types of cannabis suit you depending on your mood.

What’s the difference between cannabis flower and vape carts?

Cannabis flower and vape cartridges both involve inhalation, a fast-acting method of consumption that delivers potent effects in a near instant. That’s about where the similarities end though, so let’s take a look at how these cannabis products are different.

Cannabis Flower: The Traditional Choice

Cannabis flower refers to the dried and cured buds harvested from mature female cannabis plants. It is the most natural, unrefined form of cannabis that people have been consuming for centuries.

Cannabis flower offers a full sensory experience that begins even before your session. It includes the smell of cracking open a fresh jar of bud, the feeling of the sticky nugs between your fingers, the beautiful aroma of freshly ground bud, and the complex taste of flower as you light it.

Flower also gives you options when it comes to how you consume. You could choose a bowl pack for small, quick hits; roll a joint for a chill sesh puff after puff; or pack a bong for a seriously potent blast of smoke. There are many ways to enjoy cannabis flower, and that versatility is part of the appeal for many consumers.

Vape Carts: Modern Convenience

Vape cartridges are a technological innovation that makes consuming highly potent cannabis oil a quick, easy, and clean experience. These devices are easy to use, discreet, and deliver a fast-acting dose of cannabinoids directly to your system in the form of vapor.

Unlike flower, vape cartridges produce a vapor instead of a smoke, which some consumers find less harsh and better tasting. The cannabis oil inside these cartridges is also far more potent than cannabis flower, so high tolerance consumers may opt for cartridges over flower.

You can enjoy strain-specific cartridges that taste just like your favorite strains, or you can avoid the “weed taste” entirely and opt for carts that taste like mango smoothies or pineapple seltzers. The diversity of flavors appeals to consumers with a wide range of preferences, and even those who don’t like smoking flower can find something that works for them.

All you need to use a vape cartridge is the cartridge itself and a compatible battery to power it. After that, it’s as easy as activating a button and inhaling through the mouthpiece.

How the experience of flower and vape carts compare

Cannabis flower and vape cartridges result in distinct experiences. Here’s what you can expect from each when you settle in for a sesh.

Flavor and Aroma

For many flower lovers, the flavor and aroma of the bud are two of the most important factors. High-quality cannabis flower has been carefully dried and cured to bring out a bouquet of complex aromas. Good flower is multi-faceted — you’ll pick up a few different smells that may express themselves differently in the flavor. From taking the nug out of a bag to lighting it up is an experience for all five senses.

The flavor and aroma of vape cartridges can vary, depending on the type of cannabis concentrate and whether the manufacturer has added back in the aromatic compounds known as terpenes, most of which are lost during the production process. Some vapes taste like “weed” while others have gone to lengths to ensure all you taste is a deliciously curated flavor, like raspberry sorbet.

It’s worth noting that vape cartridges tend to be more discreet than flower, producing a scent that dissipates quickly, whereas the smell of flower tends to linger. Consumers who prioritize discretion will likely find vape cartridges to be a superior option.

Potency and Effects

Vape carts are far more potent than cannabis flower. Flower generally ranges between 15% to 30% THC content. Vape cartridges, on the other hand, contain a concentrated extract known as cannabis oil, which can exceed 90% THC content in many cases. High tolerance consumers may prefer vape carts, while new consumers or low-tolerance consumers should opt for flower instead.

Broad and Full Spectrum of Compounds

Flower contains a wide range of molecular compounds, including major cannabinoids like THC and CBD, minor cannabinoids like Cannabinol (CBN) and Cannabigerol (CBG), and terpenes like myrcene and beta caryophyllene. All of these compounds work together synergistically to create unique experiences — this phenomenon is known as the entourage effect. Some consumers find this results in a preferable or more therapeutic experience, though more research is needed to truly understand it.

Vapes cartridges are a more processed form of cannabis. As a result, most cannabis concentrates contain a smaller range of compounds. They primarily contain high levels of THC, and they may contain some levels of minor cannabinoids too, though often relatively less than in cannabis flower. Some have terpenes added back in after the extraction process or they may contain terpene-rich live resin, but it’s never a guarantee that vape carts contain high levels of terpenes, though.

What’s needed to consume each type of cannabis product?

Essentials for Smoking Flower

Enjoying cannabis flower requires some tools. At a minimum, you’ll need:

There are many ways to smoke flower that may require additional equipment. These include one-hitters, bowls, bubblers, bongs, or dry herb vaporizers. The choice is yours, but rolling papers and small bowls are the cheapest and easiest methods for most consumers.

Optional tools to make smoking flower easier include a grinder rolling tray, an ashtray, a joint holder, or a water pipe for smoother hits. If you don’t want to roll joints, consider buying cones that are simple to fill.

Tools for Vape Carts

Vape carts don’t require as many tools and are straightforward to use. However, they do tend to cost a bit more upfront than if you simply bought some flower and a pack of rolling papers.

You’ll need:

In addition to 510 thread batteries and vape cartridges, you may encounter what are known as “pod systems”. These are devices that work only with proprietary pods, such as the PAX Era. These devices often feature advanced functionality, but the drawback is they only work with a specific type of pods. Meanwhile, 510 vape batteries will work with any brand of 510 thread vape carts you can find at any licensed dispensary, making them far more convenient.

Alternatively, you may opt for a disposable vape, which contains everything you need together for one price. Disposable vapes are designed to be used until they are empty or the battery dies, and then can simply be thrown away.

Cannabis flower or vape carts: Which offers more value?

Whether flower or cartridges are a better value for your weed budget depends on a few factors, including the product’s THC potency, your tolerance, your frequency of use, and your goals for consumption.

Vape cartridges are more expensive than an eighth, but a little goes a long way with concentrates. If you have a high THC tolerance or want to consume multiple times a day, a vape cartridge may be a more cost-effective choice.

The price of flower ranges by how much you consume. An eighth is relatively inexpensive and a good choice for someone who doesn’t consume frequently. But if you enjoy daily smoking, you can often find cost-effective deals on larger quantities of flower (usually a half ounce or more) that can help you stretch your weed budget further.

Many consumers don’t simply choose one or the other — they like to mix and match based on their mood and circumstances. It’s quite common for consumers to have a stash of cannabis flower at home but carry a vape pen with them on the go. At the end of the day, it’s all about preference — the product that provides the most value is the one you enjoy consuming the most.

Not sure which to choose? Ask a Boone Town budtender!

Whether vape carts or cannabis flower will work better for you is a personal question that depends on your THC tolerance, preference, and consumption goals. If you find that you’re still lost in the options, the budtenders at Boone Town Provisions can help. Our budtenders are certified cannabis lovers, with a wide range of experiences in consumption, and they can help you walk through your goals, any consumption constraints, and your personal preferences to find the winner of vapes vs. flower

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