September 6, 2022

THC Cartridges

THC vape cartridges, sometimes shortened to THC cartridges or referred to as weed carts in popular culture, are an increasingly popular way to consume tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis desired by many users.

This article will cover everything you need to know when choosing or using THC cartridges.

How Do THC Vape Cartridges Work?

THC cartridges contain pre-filled cannabis oil or concentrate of varying THC percentages. Users then load these cartridges into a cannabis pen. At the moment of inhalation, the vape or cartridge vaporizes the cannabis oil of your chosen strain and variety.

Why are THC Cartridges Popular?

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

1. Cartridges are portable and convenient
2. There’s very little mess
3. They tend to be long-lasting, because they come in concentrated doses
4. You avoid the smell of burning cannabis. THC vapes rarely smell and only produce the aromas of your chosen cartridge strain.
5. They come in different flavors; you have a wide range of exciting genetics that amplifies the taste of the THC vape, such as earthy, citrus, berry, mint, and pine, as well as more exotic ones like diesel, tart, and skunk.

What’s Inside a Cartridge?

A vape pen battery holds a cannabis cartridge 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%).

As noted above, cartridges come in a variety of strains. Visit the Kurvana Direct store (top-rated for quality) or a Kurvana Authorized Retailer that sells our THC cartridges near your area, and you will not lack for choice. Many consumers also read product reviews to learn about different THC vape cartridge strains and flavors.
Heads up: reviews may refer to products by different terms, e.g., weed cart flavors instead of THC vape cart flavors. In most instances, these mean the same thing.

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 vape cartridge labels: indica and sativa. As such, you may see some cartridges described as indica carts or sativa carts and may be wondering the difference between them. You will likely find many overly-simplistic definitions online (e.g., indica is for relaxation while sativa is for energy); in truth, each strain will affect different people differently.

THC Vape Cartridges: 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 taken recently.

People new to vaping often ask how many inhalations they should take to get the desired effect. Assuming that the oil has an 80% concentration of THC, a typical inhalation should contain 4mg 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.

THC cartridges and price

When looking at the price of THC cartridges, the first thing to consider is that they come in different sizes. The two most common sizes are 1ml or 0.5ml, 1g vs. 0.5g cartridges. 1ml is the same size as 1g, and the 0.5ml size (“point-five gram cart” or “half gram carts”) is the most common.

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 THC vape 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).

Do THC Cartridges Expire?

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

THC loses its potency by converting to cannabinol (CBN), and terpenes lose their flavor over time due to natural environmental (heat, light, oxidation) factors. Thus, using an expired cartridge is unlikely to hurt you but won’t give you the typical effect.

Clogged Cartridges

Cartridges 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 that doesn’t solve the problem, a cartridge can often be cleared using a thin wire or paper clip.

See more detailed instructions here.