Since the dawn of this decade, the sales of e-cigarettes and other vaping products have skyrocketed worldwide. The annual value of the vaping market is currently expected to be above 20 billion dollars, up from the 2016 market valuation of slightly more than 2.5 million dollars.
There are over 4.5 million habitual vapers in the US, serviced by approximately three thousand specialized vape businesses and an increasing number of internet sellers. However, vaping products are now available virtually everywhere, from supermarkets to convenience stores to online shops.
This article examines our consumption patterns using these recreational and medicinal products and services that have altered the global landscape. We’ve tried to shed light on the phenomenon of electronic smoking devices and vaping by examining its amazing rise and exploring whether it is an asset or a curse to society.
A Brief History of Electronic Cigarettes
Vape adverts are everywhere, from bus advertisements to branding plastered all over your neighborhood newsagent. And while vape acceptance and demand have skyrocketed in the past few years, their history goes back over a century. Joseph Robinson, a New Yorker, submitted a patent application in 1927 for a system he called a “mechanical butane ignition vaporizer.”
Its primary function was that of a medical instrument, and its primary purpose was to make it possible for people to inhale medicinal chemicals. Although it is widely believed to have been the first electric vaporizer, the device never made it past the concept stage.
In 1963, another American, Herbert A. Gilbert, developed a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette, marking the next stage in the advancement of the electronic cigarette. Like its present-day counterpart, it heated flavored vapors using a battery. Unfortunately, the idea failed to take off. At that point in history, consumers were unaware of the hazards of tobacco use and, therefore, were not actively seeking alternatives.
Then, in the late 1970s, computer scientist Phil Ray and his medical physician, Norman Jacobson, advanced the concept with a nicotine-soaked filter that a user would inhale each time they made a draw.
Although it was not electronic, it capitalized on its functionality in the evaporation of nicotine. The commercialization of this product hit major retail outlets, but it was never a futuristic device, and Jacobson attributes its failure to poor concept design. Nonetheless, the duo is attributed to popularizing the term ‘vape.’
Innovators and cigarette manufacturers submitted many patents for nicotine inhaler devices in the 20th century and early 21st century, leading to a lot of action in the 1990s. Most utilized evaporation or mechanical propulsion, but a few resembled modern electronic cigarettes. In the late 1990s, a large American tobacco corporation approached the FDA (which did not oversee tobacco products at the time but could regulate medication administration) about releasing an electronic cigarette. FDA turned down the application because it was for an untested drug administration instrument. This may explain the decline in efforts to commercialize e-cigarettes.
The Coming to Birth of Modern-Day Vape Devices
Hon Lik, a 52-year-old pharmacist, inventor, and chain smoker, designed the first economically viable electronic cigarette in Beijing, China. He designed the gadget after his father’s death, who was also a voracious smoker who succumbed to lung cancer. Hon is believed to have invented the nicotine-free vape device to curb his smoking addiction.
Golden Dragon Holdings, where Lik worked, developed the device and renamed it Ruyan, which translates to “like smoke.” Although modern vaping gadgets have since evolved from Lik’s original concept, the design has been widely adopted and utilized to consume different substances, including cannabis-infused juices. Let’s look at the types of vaping gadgets available today.
Types of Vaping Devices
There are two different varieties of e-cigarettes: mouth-to-lung and direct-to-lung. These pertain to inhaling the vapor, whether you first hold it in your mouth (as when puffing on a cigarette) or take it indirectly (as with an asthma medication). A mouth-to-lung gadget is an alternative that most closely replicates the experience of smoking a cigarette. Let’s explore each category in depth.
Mouth-To-Lung Devices (Also Known as MTL Gadgets)
Mouth-to-lung electronic gadgets are great for helping people kick the cigarette smoking habit since the inhaling motion is quite similar to that of cigarette consumption. They are discrete, produce small clouds, and can deliver high levels of addictive substance. There are two choices for mouth-to-lung administration: pod and pen gadgets.
Pod Gadgets
The Pod is a very easy-to-use device. Insert a cartridge (also referred to as caps, capsules, or pods) and inhale as you would smoke a cigarette. You don’t have to switch out coils or press buttons to control the gadget. Pod devices are a little more expensive but are the best option if you are not too tech-savvy. Vape pod systems work with replaceable canisters that snap into the gadget’s terminal. Some are reusable, while others are single-use. When the pen cartridge runs out, you replace it and continue enjoying your device.
Vaping Pen Devices
Vape pens are easy to use if you don’t mind a little tech. There is just a single button that may be used to activate or deactivate the device with a few fast presses on it. The device has a battery, heating element, and an enclosed container you can refill with e-liquid. The battery must be recharged regularly and replaced at least annually. Fill the vape tank with flavored e-juice until it reaches the ‘full’ line. The coil’s function is to convert the juice into vapor by heating it. The coils must be replaced every two to four weeks or whenever a burnt or faint flavor occurs.
Direct-To-Lung Devices
Seasoned vapers love these direct-to-lung gadgets (sometimes called direct-inhale, mod boxes, or tanks). They can produce large plumes and are more effective in helping consumers kick the habit. Still, they could work for some individuals who have trouble quitting smoking.
Cost of Vape Pods and Pens
To be on the safe side, try not to spend less than twenty dollars. The price of a reputed kind of vape can range anywhere from $40 to $60. Learn as much as possible about vaping devices, and consult a vape shop expert before purchasing. It is crucial to note that vaping items are consumer goods, not the medical cessation of smoking aids.
Nicotine-Free Vaping
Certain e-liquids contain nicotine, but the vast majority of e-liquids on the market are nicotine-free. For those who don’t want the addictive substance but still want to enjoy the vaping experience for its flavor and cloudy pleasure, nicotine-free vape juice is the way to go.
On the other hand, some users seek the therapeutic value of vaping by using CBD vape juice for pain relief, energy boost, and relaxation or to improve their sleep quality. Some users want to look cool vaping without experiencing any of the effects caused by CBD or nicotine. You should note that the flavor of the nicotine or CBD-free vape juice is not affected by the absence of these substances. Thus raspberry e-liquid will retain the raspberry flavor; blueberry e-juices will burst with berry richness, and menthol e-liquid will be as refreshing as fresh mint.
In Summary
Vaping technology has come a long way from its inception to what we are currently experiencing. There are numerous viewpoints and attitudes regarding vaping. Some people think it’s just as hazardous as smoking, while others say it makes it easier to overcome the habit. In reality, it’s somewhere in the middle: vaping isn’t for those who have never smoked before, but it might be able to assist smokers to kick the habit.
The author of this article is Denys Svirepchuk, an expert in cannabis technology and a dedicated vaper. Denys works as a full-time blogger at AskGrowers to keep the resource’s audience informed about the latest advancements in the world of vaping, including CBD vapes, for deriving maximum value and benefit from CBD.