Vaping cartridges represent a popular way to consume THC and CBD, but accidents happen.
Perhaps you left your pen in a hot car, had it tumble into a campfire, or left the battery charging too long. Whatever the cause, noticing your damaged burnt cart can prompt an important question – will burnt oil still get me high if I try to vape it?
This article explores that question in detail while assessing cartridge potency after exposure to high heat. Let’s investigate why burning cart oil matters in the first place!
What Happens When You Burn a Cart?
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When vape cartridges get too hot, a process called decarboxylation occurs. This applies extreme heat that burns off carboxyl groups from the cannabinoids like THC and CBD present in the oil.
Decarbing activates many cannabinoids but degrades terpenes that provide flavors and effects. As a result, severely burnt cart oil will taste burnt, look darker in color, and have a harsher vapor.
Many people who use carts always have that curious question: do burnt carts still get you high?
If you are looking for more articles about burnt carts or wondering what happens when you burn a cart, you can find information on many online websites. However, the Kindpen is an excellent resource for you to learn more about the potency and effects of overheated, burnt vape cartridges.
The good news is that even if your vape cart gets burnt, it will likely still get you high to some degree if it contains THC. However, the potency and effects of the remaining oil will be diminished compared to its original state.
During decarboxylation, some THC converts to CBN, a cannabinoid that produces more sedating effects compared to THC’s psychoactive high. So, while overheated cart oil can still have a high, it will feel different than intended and not be as potent.
Factors That Impact the Potency of Burnt Carts
Several variables influence just how much potency remains in an overheated cartridge:
1. Severity of Burning
The longer and hotter the cart gets; the more decarboxylation and degradation will occur.
A mildly burnt or lightly toasted cart may retain more potency than one that has essentially turned to ashes or become highly charred. The temperature, overheating duration, and degree of combustion significantly affect how much the original cannabinoid and terpene profiles remain viable.
A cart that got a little too hot and developed a slightly burnt taste still likely has most of its compounds intact, with some decarboxylation converting acids to their activated forms. However, severely burnt carts that combusted and kept heating until blackened and dry mean that the most desirable material has been essentially destroyed.
2. Voltage/Temperature Settings
Modern vape pens and batteries allow you to adjust the voltage or temperature settings. Using higher, harsher settings raises the heat levels and increases the likelihood of burning or combusting the cannabis oil in the vape cartridge.
Many vapes have pre-set voltage options, with anything above 3.7V-4.2V being considered the upper limits of vaping temperatures that could risk overheating.
The lower the voltage, the cooler and smoother the vapor production. 3.0V-3.4V is an ideal range for preserving terpenes.
3. Quality of Cart Hardware
The quality of the actual vapes cartridge hardware itself can play a role in preventing or contributing to burning the oil.
Well-made, high-quality cartridges from reputable brands are designed to distribute and regulate heat evenly. This allows for consistent vaporization without accidental combustion.
On the other hand, cheaper cartridges made with poor craftsmanship and materials are more prone to uneven heating. This can lead to hot spots that scorch the oil in those areas while other sections remain underheated. The lack of temperature control and uniform heat distribution increases the risk of burning.
Premium cartridge brands use materials like ceramic, quartz, or high-quality metal optimized for precise vaporization. The coil and airflow system is engineered for smooth, regulated heating. While typically more expensive, the hardware is built to last and perform properly.
Preventing Burnt Carts in the First Place
Of course, the best solution is to prevent your vape cartridge from getting burnt or overheated.
Here are some tips to help maximize your vape experience:
1. Use Proper Temperature
Settings Cannabis oil vaporizes most effectively and preserves terpenes best at lower temperatures.
Higher temps increase the risk of burning the oil. Set your vape’s voltage or temperature as low as possible while producing decent vapor production.
Also, vaping cannabis at high temperatures provides good results. This is because it allows the cannabinoids and terpenes to activate and vaporize without excessively high heat exposure. Going much above 400°F causes faster degradation of those compounds.
2. Take Shorter Draws
Long, continuous draws on a vape cartridge for 10 seconds or more can quickly overheat and potentially burn the oil. Instead, take shorter 3-5 second puffs with breaks in between to allow the cart to cool down and prevent overheating. Pulling extended, aggressive rips generates excessive heat buildup.
Think of it like sipping a hot drink – taking small sips prevents burning your mouth compared to chugging the whole thing. The same applies to vaping.
Short sips of vapor allow the heat levels to remain controlled rather than spiking up with prolonged inhalation.
Conclusion
Even if your vape cartridge gets burnt, it can still produce a high if it originally contained THC. However, the potency and quality of the effects will be noticeably reduced compared to an unburnt cart.
Extended overheating causes more cannabinoid degradation and conversion to different compounds like CBN, altering the high. While you can still incorporate burnt cart oil into other cannabis products like edibles or topicals, vaping the severely burnt remnants is generally an unsatisfying experience.
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