Kurvana KPEN Originals True OG Vape Cartridge THC Premium Natural

September 14, 2017

The Evolution of the Vape Pen

To celebrate the transition of our Strain of the Month oil to our brand new device, we wanted to reflect on the evolution of the Vape Pen.

Walk into any dispensary and there is a myriad of options for cannabis users to medicate. You’re likely to see an entire section dedicated to the cannabis vape pen. Since the popularization of cannabis vapes, hundreds of companies have popped up offering seemingly identical products. The benefits are clear: portability, discretion, and consistent dosing. Still, with all of the options available and their likeness to e-cigarettes, some patients are ill-informed and intimidated by the world of vaping. In reality, the modern vape has allowed us to reap the benefits of cannabis in a completely new and innovative way. Before we discuss the advantages of current vape technology, let’s peer back into the origin of the e-cig.

Who created the first vape pen?

The first patented electronic cigarette was invented by a Korean War veteran, Herbert A. Gilbert, sometime in the early 1960’s. Gilbert’s inspiration for developing the e-cig came from his simple observation that smoking dry tobacco leaves felt disgusting. To Gilbert, the act of burning and smoking something was repulsive. Although never officially launched into the market, Gilbert’s design, including a flavor cartridge, heating mechanism, mouthpiece, and long, slim shape, certainly paved the way for all vape designs that followed.

Gilbert’s original design called for a replacement battery each time the device died. Yikes!

When did vape pens become popular in the U.S?

Before billowing clouds and box mods the size of your head, vape pens were a simple device resembling traditional cigarettes. Predominantly used as a healthier alternative for consuming nicotine, they were introduced to the United States around 2006. Most of the e-cigarettes were disposable and could be purchased alongside plastic bongs and rasta colored ash trays within head and tobacco shops. Over time, the e-cigarette got a distinct style all its own: a thicker diameter, numerous color and material options, snazzy mouth tips, and customizable battery power settings. No longer viewed by the public as an extension of big tobacco, the vape industry flourished and its own subculture was born.

But what about cannabis oil vape pens?

Although its history is cloudy, the cannabis vape pen industry has nearly eclipsed that of the e-cig in the past few years. As cannabis entered the mainstream, companies specializing in e-cigarette gear began making new devices in a variety of shapes and sizes, some designed for dry herb and some for wax and oil. Others, like Kurvana, released disposable cartridges optimized for cannabis oil viscosity, pre-filled with their own curated cannabis oil.

Finally, cannabis users could go outside and enjoy cannabis relief without carrying a heavy and conspicuous piece of glass around. Forget about lighters or torches; these devices deliver effects with the press of a button (in Kurvana’s case, without a button)! Of course, the most enticing feature of a cannabis vape pen is that it is discrete- from its look to its lack of smell. The vapor does not produce a cannabis-associated scent and most people will assume the user is smoking nicotine. So, we can likely thank the prohibition of cannabis for the popularity of vape pens; there was and still is a need for discretion. Vapes solve this problem.

While its popularity may have been due to its deceptive similarity to an e-cig, users quickly realized it was a healthier alternative too. In addition to its portability and ease of use, many noticed an improvement in their respiratory system after swapping their bong for a pen.

Not all vape pens are created equal, but most of them share the same basic mechanisms. All oil vape pens have a battery-powered central heating component that warms the oil, producing a vapor that the user inhales. Check out some of the various types of cannabis vape pens from the last few years:

Oil-based vape pens often only work for oil that has a thin consistency resembling e-juice. People rarely use these anymore, as they function very similarly to the early and not-so-desirable e-cigs. Patients complained about a burnt taste, inconsistent hits, and constant cartridge malfunction.

How has the cannabis vape pen improved?

The heating mechanisms within the earliest vape pens were not optimized for cannabis oil. Each hit essentially burned the product inside, resulting in the degradation of essential cannabinoids. Since its inception, the cannabis vape pen has certainly improved in all aspects, including style, reliability, and tastiness of hit. Like the industry itself, Kurvana is constantly improving.

Our new technology was made for cannabis oil. The upgraded KPEN device delicately heats our pure, full-spectrum oil so that each and every hit amplifies the true-to-strain taste of our oils and delivers double the amount of cannabinoids per draw. View the full description of specs for our upgraded KPEN, here.