The heat is on

Vaporizers have been around in one form or another for the last 20 years. The first were the size of a toaster and were looked upon as a fad, too good to be true. But with the popularity of medical-cannabis consumption by patients with severe breathing problems, the vaporizer has become a valuable compassionate tool.

Vaporizers work by heating the marijuana instead of burning it. Often heated in a metal container, the vapor gets contained in either a concealed glass chamber or a plastic bag. You inhale the smokeless vapor.

The ignition point of THC is 314 degrees Fahrenheit. Cannabidiol ignites at 320 to 356 degrees. Most vaporizers have a temperature control so that you can pick how you want to ingest your medicine. Want the THC? Then just vaporize it. If you like a high dose of CBD, all you have to do is adjust the temperature.

Vaporizers should not give off the sweet smell of bud. This, however, does not inhibit the flavor of the herb, which is best experienced on the first toke. The buzz that you achieve from a vaporizer is more clean, pleasant and potent.

I checked out three different vaporizers for consumer product testing, each a different size and priced accordingly. Kind of like Daddy Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear, I tried them all, and they were all just right.

The Extreme Q Multi-Purpose Hot Air Machine is a table model vaporizer, and it is full of cool features such as lights, hose/pipe/bag attachments, a remote control, three-speed fan and digital selective temperature controls. You take the connector to the bag off the Extreme Q and insert it into your favorite bong, no fire needed. The bag will empty after eight hits or so. And while it looks awkward, it is very easy to use.

The Extreme Q is electrically powered and either plugs into a wall or uses a charger. Nevertheless, it is not a very portable vaporizer. Out of the three vaporizers that I tested, the Extreme Q had the harshest vapor.

The Vapir No2 Vaporizer is a handy coke-bottle-sized vaporizer. The flameless, rechargeable, electric-powered heater reaches your desired temperature amazingly fast and is simple to use. Good for patients who want a portable vaporizer but do not want to inhale trace amounts of butane.

The No2 draws as easy as a brand-new glass pipe and emitted barely of puff of vapor when exhaled. So smooth on the lungs that it is just like breathing air.

Last but not least, the Iolite is a little, butane-powered vaporizer that fits into the palm of your hand and is as inconspicuous as a cellphone. It is fast to heat up and easy to use. It produced a clean draw of air with zero exhaled vapor. And it comes in a variety of colors.

Personally, if I were to invest in a vaporizer, the Iolite is the one that I would buy.