Combustion

Combustion happens when cannabis flower is burned, like when smoking a joint or lighting a bowl. Heat from the flame decarboxylates cannabinoids, making them available for absorption when inhaled. Combustion can degrade some compounds compared to vaporization which uses lower temperatures to convert them to vapor.

“Smoking a joint combusts the flower, while vaping gently converts compounds to vapor.”

Lighting cannabis plant material on fire incinerates it. This combustion process decarboxylates acidic cannabinoids like THCA, converting them to the active form that causes effects. The heat also volatilizes terpenes and other components so they can be inhaled.

Combustion provides easy access to effects, but some terpenes and cannabinoids may be destroyed by the high heat. Vaporization avoids this by keeping temperatures lower. The compounds convert to vapor through a phase change instead of burning. Vaping less aggressively decarboxylates flower which some believe results in different effects.