THC Weed Carts & Vape Cartridges – Everything you need to know

THC vape cartridges, sometimes shortened to “THC carts” or “weed carts,” are an increasingly popular way to consume tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis, and it is one of many other cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant species. This article will cover everything you need to know when choosing and using THC cartridges.

If you’re looking for a premium, high-potency option, check out Kurvana’s ASCND line. This line offers oils that prioritize both intense potency and smooth, mild tastes. Each oil in the ASCND line provides maximized THC levels for immediate, powerful effects—perfect for those who want a potent hit wherever they are. With an all-new ceramic heating element and optimized airflow, these carts deliver high-dose draws, offering a seamless experience for any cannabis enthusiast.

THC Weed Carts (cartridges) 101: How Do They Work?

A THC cartridge, sometimes referred to as a weed cart or cannabis cart, contains prefilled cannabis oil or concentrate of varying cannabinoid percentages. Users then load these cartridges into a cannabis vape pen (also referred to as a THC vape pen).

The cartridge battery is essential here: at the moment of inhalation, the battery-powered cartridge vaporizes the cannabis oil of your chosen strain and variety. Without quality cartridge batteries THC won’t effectively vaporize the oil, leading to a suboptimal experience.

Why are THC Carts Popular?

There are at least five reasons why THC carts are popular:

1. Cartridges are portable and convenient.
2.  There’s no mess, since the oil is ready to use. 
3.  They tend to be long-lasting, because they come in concentrated doses.
4.  You avoid the smell of burning cannabis. Unlike cannabis flower, THC vapes rarely smell strongly, and only produce the aromas of your chosen cannabis cart strain.
5.  They come in different strains. Just like cannabis flower, you have a wide range of exciting genetics and terpenes that amplify the taste and aroma of the weed cart, such as earthy, citrus, berry, mint, and pine, as well as more exotic ones like diesel, tart, and skunk.

What’s Inside a Cannabis Cart?

A THC vape pen battery holds a cannabis cart loaded with pre-filled cannabis oil or cannabis extract (a highly potent concentrate, also known as dab or wax, that contains THC concentrations ranging from 50% to 95%). 

The cartridge batteries THC vape pens use are crucial to ensuring that these potent oils are vaporized correctly. Without a good power source, your experience might lack the potency and smoothness typically associated with high-quality THC products.

As noted above, a cannabis cart can come in a variety of strains. They’re offered as sativa carts, indica carts, or hybrid carts. Kurvana’s collections, including our Originals, ASCND, and CARBON21 lines, are available in cartridges that are compatible with most 510 thread batteries. They’re also available in All-In-One options that are ready to use out of the box. 

Heads up: reviews may refer to products by different terms: e.g., cannabis cart flavors instead of THC vape cart flavors. In most instances, these mean the same thing. 

As long as you’re choosing a high-quality brand, the word “flavor” is not referring to added flavors, but to the naturally-occurring terpene flavors produced by any given strain. This is the case for all Kurvana products.

How Do Batteries Affect the Cannabis Cart?

Not all cartridge batteries THC setups are created equal. Some batteries are adjustable, allowing you to control the temperature at which the THC oil is vaporized. 

Higher temperatures can produce bigger clouds of vapor, but they might also burn the terpenes and cannabinoids, diminishing the flavor. Lower temperatures, on the other hand, can preserve the taste but may produce less vapor.

How to Choose the Right Batteries for Your Cannabis Cart

When selecting a cannabis vape battery, consider the following factors:

• Capacity (mAh): High capacity means longer usage times / battery life – the higher the better so you don’t need to charge your device as much.
• Voltage Settings: Adjustable voltage allows for temperature control. Higher volts create a bigger cloud, but lower volts preserve the flavor and terpenes better.
• Compatibility: Ensure it fits your vape cartridge- you’ll typically look for a universal 510 thread battery if its for cannabis.
• Portability and Style: Choose a size that fits your lifestyle. If you’re always on the go, don’t choose a large / clunky vaping device that needs to be charged often.
• Brand Reputation: Opt for trusted brands for reliability and safety, in addition to great customer service and helpful warranties and exchange policies. Kurvana prides itself on its amazing customer service!

Choosing the right cartridge batteries THC for your specific cannabis cart is essential. Most cartridges are compatible with 510 thread batteries, which are widely available and easy to use. However, some brands may offer proprietary cartridges and batteries designed to work best together.

Always ensure that the battery you choose is compatible with your cannabis cart to get the best results.

What’s in Cannabis Oil?

One of our most frequently asked questions concerns the ingredients that go into cannabis oil. Or, at a dispensary, you might hear the same question posed as “what’s in weed oil?”

Since cannabis oil consists of concentrated extracts from cannabis plants, it contains the same active ingredients that the plants do. That said, the two main active ingredients of cannabis oil are THC and cannabidiol (CBD). Skunk plants tend to produce more THC, while hemp plants tend to produce more CBD.

When considering potency, the highest percentage THC carts can contain more than 90% THC.  For example, the indica-dominant Purple Punch is just over 92% THC while the sativa-dominant Amnesia Haze is over 94%.

A further complication is that there are two primary species of cannabis that you’ll often see on THC/weed cart labels: indica and sativa. You may see a cannabis cart described as an “indica” or “sativa” weed cart and wonder if there is a difference. You will likely find many overly-simplistic definitions online (e.g., indica is for relaxation while sativa is for energy), but in truth, each strain affects people differently according to their unique body chemistry.

There is also such a thing as a hybrid cannabis cart, which contains a hybrid strain that may be sativa-dominant, indica-dominant, or an equal balance of both.

THC Vape Pens: Potency and Strength of Effect

As noted above, the same strain will affect different people differently due to differences in body chemistry, but it is also affected by gender, weight, tolerance, and even what else you have eaten, drunk, or what medications you may have taken recently.

People new to vaping often ask how many hits they should take to get the desired effect.  Assuming that the oil has an 80% concentration of THC, a typical draw should contain 4 mg of THC. We recommend starting with small quantities and assessing the effect before moving to larger doses. A typical person using vaporizers might take two or three inhalations and feel an effect for approximately three hours. A more experienced person can eventually try our strongest thc carts, pens, and vapes.

THC Carts and Price

When it comes to prices, the first thing to consider is that a cannabis cart can come in different sizes. The most common sizes are 1ml and 0.5ml cartridges. 1ml is equivalent to 1 gram, and the 0.5ml size (also referred to as point-five gram cart, half gram cannabis cart, or half gram dab) is equal to 500mg, which is the most common size offered.

Prices for quality 0.5ml cartridges vary from about $35 to $55, while 1ml cartridges have double the volume but usually less than double the cost. They often tend to be the most cost-efficient.

You can also ensure  you get the most out of each cartridge by checking it carefully for leaks and storing it upright (so it doesn’t leak) and in a cool, dark, dry place (to reduce the naturally occurring oxidation process).

Maximizing Your Cartridge’s Lifespan

To get the most out of your cartridge, it’s important to store both the oil and the cartridge battery in a cool, dark, and dry place to keep the oil from degrading and to reduce the naturally occurring oxidation process. Keep the cartridge upright so it doesn’t leak.

Always clean the battery’s connection point to prevent oil buildup and ensure a smooth vaping experience. Proper care of your cannabis cart batteries extends their lifespan.

Fixing Common Cannabis Cart Battery Issues

A clogged or malfunctioning vape can often be traced back to the cartridge battery or connection. If you experience weak hits or inconsistent vapor production, cleaning the battery and cartridge connection with a small brush or cloth may resolve the issue. Sometimes, it’s not the oil that’s the problem but the cartridge batteries THC not delivering power correctly due to buildup or wear.

Fixing Clogged Cartridges

Carts can get clogged due to many factors, often relating to a buildup of condensation. 

When the vape pen is clogged, you will get oil droplets instead of inhaling a smooth cloud of vapor. Condensation buildup can be avoided by inhaling from the vape pen “dry”—inhaling without engaging the cartridge (usually without a power source or not pressing the button on your vape pen, if it has one). If that doesn’t solve the problem, a cartridge can often be cleared using a thin wire or paper clip. See more detailed instructions here.

Do THC Carts Expire?

Most cartridges expire within a year of manufacture. If you’re wondering what happens if you smoke an expired weed cart, don’t worry; it’s not dangerous. It just won’t have much of an effect, and the flavor will be lacking. 

THC loses its potency by converting to cannabinol (CBN), and terpenes lose their flavor over time due to natural environmental (heat, light, oxidation) factors. Using an expired cannabis cart is unlikely to hurt you but won’t give you the typical effect, nor will it taste the same as when fresh.

If you’re seeking top-shelf THC vape cartridges that have been rigorously tested for purity, safety, and potency, you’ve come to the right place. Browse our collection of full-spectrum cannabis oil cartridges, concentrates and tinctures here, and get delivery on demand with Eaze!