The cannabis plant is one of the most complex in the world. Not only does the plant compound content vary from strain to strain, but it can also vary from cultivator to cultivator and environment to environment.  

Complicating things even further is the fact that these complexities and how oil is extracted can affect cannabis oil’s viscosity. If viscosity varies from strain to strain and batch to batch, this poses a significant challenge for those filling vape carts and all-in-one vape devices. 

To help you navigate the most common and complex challenges in cannabis vape production, we answer the question, “How to handle viscosity changes?” in our ultimate guide. Keep reading to learn more about viscosity management, techniques, and equipment to help. 

Why Viscosity Management Is Critical

Put simply, viscosity management is critical when producing cannabis vapes because it directly impacts both product quality and safety. More scientifically, the proper viscosity ensures even heating and vaporization of the oil, preventing inadequate delivery and overheating. Too thick of oil can lead to clogging and poor wicking. Too thin of a mixture may leak or vaporize too quickly, potentially causing sputtering and leaking. 

In the competitive cannabis market, one bad vape experience (one that pulls too hard or leaks) can immediately negatively affect customer loyalty and retention. So, understanding viscosity and closely monitoring and managing it is crucial to being considered a “top-shelf” brand. 

Viscosity’s Impact On Vaporization Technology

There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it; the viscosity profile of cannabis oil also directly influences how vaporization hardware performs. Optimal viscosity ensures proper wicking through cotton, ceramic, or mesh materials to the heating element in all-in-one devices and battery cartridge systems. 

When viscosity is too high, it strains the battery by requiring more power to heat the thicker oil, reducing battery life and potentially leading to burnout. Conversely, too thin oils can flood heating chambers, causing uneven heating and potential device failure. 

Modern vaporizer batteries typically operate between 2.5 and 4.8V, meaning the oil’s viscosity must be calibrated to perform consistently across this voltage range. With the popularity of temperature-controlled devices, precise viscosity helps maintain accurate temperature regulation and prevents degradation of cannabinoids and hardware components. 

This offers consumers a more accurate representation of the plant’s complex profiles and a higher-quality buzz. Overall, managing viscosity is vital for not only the consumer experience but also for maintaining the integrity of device technology. 

Problems With Viscosity In Production

Understanding the most common problems with viscosity in production will help you better understand the solutions and improve how your lab or facility works. So, if you’re lucky enough not to have experienced these already or are new to the subject, here are some significant issues with viscosity vape filling. 

1. Temperature Fluctuations: During production, ambient temperature changes can dramatically affect oil viscosity, leading to inconsistent fill volumes and weights. Oil temperature can expand or contract when it varies, causing over or underfilling of cartridges and devices.
2. Homogenization Issues: Inadequate viscosity can result in poor homogenization of cannabinoids, terpenes, and carriers. This leads to the degradation of the compounds and inconsistent potency throughout the batch.
3. Air Bubbles: When oil viscosity is too high during filling, it can trap air pockets within the cartridge. These bubbles can affect customer satisfaction, cause heating issues, and potentially damage the device’s atomizer.
4. Flow Rate Inconsistencies: Improper viscosity management disrupts automated filling systems’ flow rates, causing irregular dispensing patterns. This leads to production delays, waste, and inconsistent fill levels across batches.
5. Equipment Clogging: Overly thick oils can clog filling needles, pumps, and transfer lines. This requires frequent cleaning cycles, reduces production efficiency, and increases the risk of equipment damage.
6. Post-Fill Migration: Insufficient viscosity control can allow oil to seep into threading or other cartridge components after filling, creating cleanliness issues and potential device failures.

Techniques For Managing Viscosity Changes

Now that you understand the problems, the next thing to understand for “how to handle viscosity changes” are the techniques or solutions you can implement to help.  

Precision Temperature Control

Precision temperature control is crucial to maintaining the optimal viscosity throughout the production process. This includes not only vape filing but also critical points during the process. From bulk storage to filling, an ideal working viscosity is typically at 45-65°C (113-150°F). 

Consistent temperature control prevents the common issues of:

• Irregular flow rates
• Trapped air bubbles
• Inconsistent fills 

Advanced systems often offer extractors real-time viscosity monitoring coupled with temperature controllers to make micro-adjustments. This helps ensure the oil maintains proper flow characteristics from the first cartridge to the last of a production run.

Real-Time Monitoring And Testing

Real-time monitoring and testing during vape filling employ advanced viscometry sensors and inline testing equipment to measure oil viscosity continuously throughout production. These systems typically use rotational or vibrational viscometers integrated directly into the filling line, providing immediate feedback on viscosity changes. 

When deviations from target specifications are detected, automated systems can adjust temperature controls or alert operators before quality issues arise. Regular sampling and laboratory testing complement real-time monitoring, offering detailed analysis of viscosity stability, ensuring consistency across batches, and validating in-line measurements. 

This dual approach of continuous monitoring and periodic verification helps maintain precise viscosity control, which is essential for high-quality vape production.

Viscosity And Vaporization: Ensuring Device Compatibility

Again, it’s not just about getting the viscosity right for optimal filling; it’s about offering consumers a device compatible with the extract’s viscosity for optimal vaporization. 

Importance of Matching Formulations to Devices

Another crucial part of producing high-quality vape products is matching specific extract formulations to appropriate vaporizer devices for optimal performance. Each all-in-one vaporizer design has unique specifications for viscosity ranges, heating capabilities, and materials compatibility. Using a formulation that’s too thick or thin for a particular device can lead to poor and uneven heating, leakage, or device failure. 

For instance, cartridges designed for high-viscosity oils typically have larger intake holes and more robust heating elements than those meant for thinner formulations. You’ll also want to consider the unique compounds of the extract and controlled temperatures to prevent the degradation of specific cannabinoids and terpenes, which can affect the plant’s natural expression. 

Of course, one factor to consider if you’re deciding between vape carts and all-in-one devices is that you won’t be able to have as much control over matching formulations to device temperatures with vape carts. These products can be attached to any compatible battery and heated at any temperature selected by the user. 

How Filling Machines Address Compatibility

The end product of your vape cart or all-in-one device can only be as good as the oil and machine you fill it with. Instead of wasting quality oil by using subpar filling equipment that’s unable to handle the most challenging vape viscosity tests, consider upgrading to the most elite fleet available on the market today. 

VapeJet is the leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art vape and dab jar-filling machines designed to reduce costs and fill variability while preserving product quality. So, to finish our ultimate guide, let’s review their collection of AI-powered automatic vape cartridge-filling machines and more. 

Fully-Automatic Vape Cartridge Filling Machine

The VapeJet is the premier automatic vape cartridge-filling machine that can fill between 5,000 and 10,000 vape cartridges and all-in-one devices per shift with its advanced technology. It offers operators the lowest operating temperatures of any machine on the market and the lowest labor inputs, with features and controls like: 

• Machine vision alignment 
• Environmental controls 
• Pharmaceutical grade pump
• Automated clean-in-place 
• And more 

Semi-Automatic Vape Cartridge Filling Machine

The Jet Fueler, a semi-automatic vape-filling machine from the same manufacturer as the VapeJet, is less automatic yet still impactful for efficiency. It, too, can help facilities fill up to 9,000 vape cartridges or devices per shift, with more labor input than the fully automatic version. With advanced temperature controls, it can output the optimal viscosity vape fillers need. 

Semi-Automatic Dab Jar Filling Machine

The Dab Dispenser by VapeJet is the leading machine for dispensing dabs or jars of oil or concentrates. Say goodbye to hand gramming jars, with the advanced machine that can simultaneously fill and weight check up to 500 1g jars an hour. The Dab Dispenser also delivers ±1% fill accuracy with maximum quality control for various viscosities.

Elevate Your Cannabis Manufacturing With Viscosity Precision Today

All in all, cannabis oil is a precious liquid that should be treated as such. Hence, why so many extractors, vape cart, and all-in-one vape brands are now upgrading their equipment to align with the market’s preferences. As legal consumers grow and mature, so do their tastes, desired experiences, and the demand for high-quality products. 

To keep your brand ahead of the game, explore upgrading your equipment with VapeJet to protect viscosity, improve efficiency, and increase your bottom lines. Begin exploring our fleet of automatic vape cartridge filling machines and more now. 

Have questions? Review our FAQ’s or get in touch! Before you go, follow VapeJet on Instagram to stay in touch with all the latest vape industry news, equipment updates, and upgrades. 

In the cannabis industry, there’s nothing like in-person events. The crowd is not only highly motivated but spirited in a way that’s unlike other professionals. At events like MJBizCon, it’s a time for cannabis brands across the US to come together and grow together – pun most certainly intended. 

Of course, in a highly competitive market with companies needing to squeeze everything they can from their budgets – it’s best to enter the event locked, loaded, and fully prepared. So, if this is your first time attending MJBizCon or you’d like a do-over from your last…this is the guide for you. 

Keep reading to learn more about the MJBizCon and get insider tips and tricks from Vape-Jet brands on how to master the event for success.  

What is MJBizCon? 

Put simply, MJBizCon is like the Superbowl of cannabis events. Annually, it draws over 30,000 cannabis professionals from around the world, transforming Las Vegas into a hub of green innovation for a few days. For 2024, the event will be held December 3-6 at none other than the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

Attendees can expect a packed schedule featuring hundreds of exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge products and services across all sectors of the industry. The event offers a diverse lineup of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops covering topics from cultivation techniques to regulatory updates and emerging market trends. 

This year, the conference’s theme is “Fuel Your Fire”, and is set to ignite the industry with unparalleled networking opportunities and education. Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis entrepreneur or just entering the field, MJBizCon offers invaluable insights and connections to help navigate the rapidly evolving cannabis landscape.

The Best Practices For Attending MJBizCon

With the comparison to the “Superbowl” in mind, you wouldn’t roll up to this year’s Superdome unprepared, would you? The same should go for MJBizCon. So, here are 4 best practices to help you “win” at the industry’s biggest event. 

Make a Plan

“The event can be overwhelming with so many booths and endless opportunities, so it’s important to know which companies you want to connect with beforehand,” explains MJBizCon veteran Triahna Johnston of 3WINCorp, who’s attended the event for seven years. 

MJBiz helps make navigating and planning a roadmap for exhibitor stops simple by organizing the vendors in industry classifications. Meaning, the following groups all have their own respective areas in the hall: 

• Cultivators
• Processing packaging and lab services 
• Business services
• Retail and dispensary

Jesce Horton, the owner of The LOWD, community activist, cultivator with STAYME7O, and 9-year MJBiz attendee, agrees and shares one piece of advice for new attendees: “Make a schedule and prioritize based on your goals.” 

On the same note, be sure to add Wednesday’s keynote session, “Empowerment + Innovation: Reshaping the Cannabis Industry While Championing Diversity and Inclusion,” to your “must-see” schedule, where Horton is featured as a speaker alongside Carmelo Anthony and others. 

Be Prepared 

It’s not just classes and booths you want to visit that you should plan and prepare. It’s what you’ll need on hand to make the day much smoother, too. Johnston shares that she never leaves home without two essentials: her portable charger and business cards. 

“You’ll meet so many people, and handing out physical cards helps you stand out and make a lasting impression. The phone charger is essential because between using your phone for emails, appointments, and photos, your battery will drain quickly—so you’ll want to stay powered up throughout the day,” Johnston explains. 

Network Everywhere 

Johnston goes on to explain the importance of networking, not just with your planned meets, but with nearly any and every attendee you come in contact with. “Don’t forget that a lot of important business happens off the show floor, whether it’s at company events or industry parties. Build relationships and network—you’ll be surprised by how many valuable connections you can make,” she continues. 

To do so, be conscious of the exhibitor hall hours, and maximize the time you can spend on the floor to increase the number of potential partners or customers you meet. Or as Horton would say, “It is what you make it.” So, make the most of the time as you can. 

Pace Yourself 

If there’s one thing Johnston has learned from nearly a decade of attending MJBizCon, it’s the fact that it’s “a marathon, not a sprint.” She goes on to share an extra piece of advice for those attending the event for the first time. 

“Keep your evenings open for networking at after-parties or industry events, as that’s often where the real business happens. Staying hydrated and taking breaks are key to surviving the long days,” says the seasoned event attendee. 

Connect With Vape-Jet At MJBizCon

Now that you have all the insider tips and tricks you need to make the most of MJBizCon, we’ve got one final tip: make the time to meet with the industry’s leading automatic vape and dab dispenser manufacturer. Luckily, you’re in the right place! 

Get in touch to schedule a meeting with the Vape-Jet team, or find us in the exhibitor hall at booth 2438. There, you can get an up-close-and-personal demo of our equipment fleet, boosting productivity (and sales) in facilities across the US. 

Not attending MJBizCon? You can check out Vape-Jet anytime by visiting our website or sending a message to schedule a demo. 

Anyone close to or directly in the cannabis industry knows the excitement of croptober. For outdoor growers, it’s one of the year’s most bountiful and time-consuming months. Without maximum efficiency, you could miss out on maximizing the period. 

So, from improving your yields for extraction purposes to increasing quality or fine-tuning output for desired ratios and streamlining post-harvest practices, it’s important to prepare for Croptober with a clear and concise strategy. 

That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate guide to maximizing croptober to help. Keep reading to learn more about croptober weed, including how Vape-Jet can support preserving and protecting the precious fruits of the grower’s labor! 

Use Effective Growing Season Strategies

In cannabis, like so many things in life, you reap what you sow. As a result, your croptober weed yields and success heavily depend on the in-season cultivation practices you implement. To ensure the success of your operation, consider the following best practices that leading cultivators rely on for achieving maximum yields, particularly in extraction: 

1. Choose high-yield, resin-rich strains: It goes without saying that selecting resin-rich strains known for producing abundant trichomes is ideal for crops heading to extraction. 
2. Living soils or medium choice: Utilizing living soil with beneficial microbes, fungi, and organic material is a technique often used to enhance plant health, which directly impacts resin production. No matter the medium, implementing compost teas and mycorrhizal fungi can also improve nutrient uptake, leading to healthier plants and more robust trichome production.
3. Optimize plant spacing: For grows focusing on extraction material, cultivators often space the plants more densely than when prioritizing big buds for flower production. This helps maximize yield per square foot.
4. Implement strategic defoliation: Schwayzing or removing excess fan leaves to improve light penetration and air circulation, especially in the weeks leading up to harvest, can help boost resin production. 
5. Fine-tune nutrient regimen: To encourage resin production during the flowering stage, focus on phosphorus and potassium (found together in cannabis bloom booster products). 
6. Manage temperature and humidity: During the final weeks of flowering, maintain slightly cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels to stress plants into producing more resin.

Conduct Pre-Harvest Preparations

Again, preparation is key to croptober cannabis harvesting success. So, before the plants come down, here are the best practices leading operations follow to maximize efficiency. 

• Weather preparation: Set up tarps or temporary structures to protect from rain if needed, and consider what to do for unexpected cold snaps or frost (have heaters on standby, etc.)
• Equipment check: Ensure all harvesting tools (pruning shears, buckets, etc.) are clean and sharp. It also helps to prepare drying or freezing areas, making sure they’re clean and climate-controlled. 
• Labor planning: Schedule additional help if needed for harvest, and be sure to train helpers on proper harvesting techniques. 
• Plant monitoring: Begin daily checks of trichome color and development. Prepare jeweler’s loupes or digital microscopes for close inspection.
• Compliance and testing: Schedule any required compliance testing. Prepare necessary paperwork for regulatory requirements.
• Post-harvest planning: Arrange for trim crews if needed, and plan for proper storage of harvested material. 
• Extraction planning: Ensure your facility is equipped and up to speed to process the amount of incoming material and maximize the efficiency of your processes prior to the material landing. This helps fill, package, and sell products (and reach a profit!) faster. 

Harvest Cannabis Plants Effectively

Now, here is where the magic happens. The plants have grown from clone to maturity and are ready to harvest. The harvest techniques and transportation methods are crucial for the most effective and efficient extraction. Next, let’s learn more about both. 

Techniques

Timing and technique are crucial when harvesting cannabis plants for extraction purposes. While we’ve already covered how to time your harvest, here are some techniques to keep in mind for harvesting cannabis plants effectively.

Many facilities immediately freeze the material for live resin extraction and simply take down entire plants or large branches to save time. However, depending on your extractor’s preference or extraction type, wet trimming can reduce plant material, helping to save space and efficiency. 

Wet trimming entails removing large fan leaves but keeping sugar leaves because they also have a light coating of valuable trichomes. Some cultivators harvest early in the morning when the concentration of terpenes is believed to be at its peak. Other growers harvest and hang entire plants to dry before processing, which can be more time-efficient for large operations. 

Transporting and Handling Cannabis

Regardless of the harvesting technique, be sure to handle plants gently to minimize trichome loss and use clean, sharp tools to prevent contamination. From start to finish, it’s crucial to maintain a clean environment and wear gloves to preserve the integrity of the resin for extraction. 

Transporting material from one facility to another requires careful planning and execution to maintain product quality and comply with regulations. If transporting between locations, use climate-controlled vehicles to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels, typically around 60-70°F and 45-55% relative humidity. 

Ensure all transportation complies with local and state regulations, including proper documentation and chain of custody records. This includes using tamper-evident seals and even considering GPS tracking for added security. When transporting dried product, it is recommended to use airtight, light-proof containers to preserve cannabinoids and terpenes. If you are keeping it frozen, using insulated containers with dry ice will help maintain freezing temperatures. 

Lastly, always prioritize discretion during transport to minimize security risks, and train staff on proper handling and transportation protocols to ensure consistency and compliance throughout the harvest process.

Post-Harvest Processing

Next, we’ll highlight the post-harvest stages beyond the plant, from bud to oil. 

Drying

If the flower material for live products isn’t freshly frozen, it’ll go through a drying stage to remove excess moisture. To maintain and protect the integrity of the plant’s natural expression of cannabinoids and terpenes, it’s crucial to monitor this phase carefully and closely. 

Curing 

Curing is a process that’s not required for extraction purposes (it helps shelf-stability for buds and smokable flowers) but can be beneficial in some ways. For instance, cured material can be easier to work with for traditional solvent-based extracts like BHO and CO2-extracted oils, producing higher yields with enhanced flavor profiles in some cases. 

Trim and Use Excess Trim for Vapes

Utilizing excess cannabis trim for vape products is an effective way to maximize the value of harvest byproducts. Trim, consisting of sugar leaves and small buds, contains significant amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes, making it suitable for extraction. 

To create vape products, processors typically use methods like CO2 or hydrocarbon extraction to isolate the desired compounds from the trim. After winterizing the resulting crude oil to eliminate waxes and lipids, distillation is performed to refine and concentrate the cannabinoids. 

Some brands enhance distillate with strain-specific terpenes to create full-spectrum vape oils for more potent, flavor-neutral options. You could also process fresh frozen trim for live resin extraction, offering broader terpene profiles for a more robust flavor experience. 

When using trim for vapes, it’s crucial to ensure proper testing for contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals, as these can become concentrated during the extraction process. While trim-derived vape products may not command the premium of flower-extracted options, they offer a cost-effective way to create high-quality vape oils. This allows cultivators and extract brands to monetize what might otherwise be considered waste material, maximizing total ROI.

Storage

Once dried and cured, storing the material in airtight, light-proof containers made of glass or food-grade stainless steel is best to minimize terpene and cannabinoid degradation from light and oxygen exposure. 

Temperature and humidity control are crucial to preserving a flower or extract’s natural expression, as its cannabinoids and terpenes determine its quality and integrity. Proper storage techniques not only maintain the cannabinoid and terpene profiles but also contribute to the overall quality and yield of the extracted product.

Start Extraction and Filling Vapes

The faster you can begin extraction and fill vapes, the quicker your product will hit the shelves to turn a profit. Hence, the importance of making each stage of the process that much more efficient. To finish our guide, let’s talk about efficiency when preserving the integrity of the material to maximize profits and the equipment to do so. 

Extract To Preserve The Integrity Of Outdoor Bud And Maximize Profits

Gaining a competitive edge is not just about efficiency but also quality. We built Vape-Jet with cannabis in mind, configuring it to protect and preserve the integrity of all the extracts it processes.

It goes without saying that extracting from mature, fully developed buds will produce a higher-quality extract. Operations should preserve this higher-quality extract to maximize product price, customer satisfaction, and retention or loyalty. However, the same is true for protecting the integrity of any trim extract you run. 

With higher-quality equipment filling vape carts or all-in-one devices, you can maximize profits for all SKUs, regardless of their original quality or price point. When extracting buds or trim material, Vape-Jet offers the following equipment features to preserve the integrity of outdoor or croptober weed: 

• Three individual heat zones
• Nitrogen-pressurized fluid path

Both help keep the natural profiles of distillate, rosin, CO2, and other extracts by minimizing degradation, evaporation, and oxidation.

Filling Vapes With Excess Trim & Buds With Vape-Jet 

Across the US (and Canada, too!), leading extract brands for all-in-one vapes or 510 carts choose Vape-Jet for ultimate operational efficiency. Whether you’re a small lab looking to scale or a high-volume enterprise, Vape-Jet offers a machine that’ll fit your unique needs and boost your business’s profitability. 

For instance, the Vape-Jet, a fully automatic filling machine, can fill between 5,000 and 10,000 vape cartridges and all-in-one devices per shift with the lowest labor inputs and lowest operating temperatures of any machine on the market.

Vape-Jet’s configuration profiles and flexible automation allow your operation to change hardware types and oil formulations quickly, resulting in faster fill times that help expand your brand’s overall SKUs (like swapping between bud extract and trim extract). 

How To Use Vape-Jet’s Automatic Vape Filling Machines

Now that you’ve learned how to maximize Croptober from cultivation to filling vapes, equip your facility with the leading automatic vape-filling machine. Take the time today to learn more about the industry-leading Vape-Jet collection designed to maximize filling and operational efficiency.

Whether you’re just building your facility or seeking to improve efficiency, Vape-Jet is the choice for leading extractors. So, choose the automatic vape filling machine built to reduce costs and fill variability while preserving product quality for your operation, too. 

Get ahead of the competition by maximizing croptober weed and year-round crops. Contact the Vape-Jet team to get started now. 

With the rise of cannabis vape use and sales (especially amongst the growing Gen-Z and Millennial target markets), it’s no surprise aspiring cannapreneurs look to capitalize on the market. Of course, starting a high-quality cannabis vape brand is no simple feat. 

The cannabis plant and market have their own complex nuances that vape brands must learn to master to gain success. 

Luckily, it helps to learn from those with industry experience and use their expertise as a roadmap. So, if you’re here to learn how to start a vape brand, this guide will make the process that much more straightforward. 

Keep reading to learn how to start a cart or disposable vape brand with our comprehensive guide. 

Understand the Cannabis Vape Industry

In 2023 alone, the vape sector of the US cannabis industry was responsible for 4.3 billion in 

Sales. But before you start chasing profits, it’s crucial to understand the vape industry as a whole to avoid costly mistakes. 

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Of course, like any business, legal and regulatory concerns are the first factors to consider when learning how to start a vape brand. For the cannabis industry, this is even more important as regulations vary from state to state, county to county, and city to city. In fact, some areas prohibit cannabis products entirely. 

In locations where cannabis is legal, strict regulatory requirements apply to all industry parts – cultivation, processing, distribution, and retail sales. Lastly, review the tax regulations specific to cannabis products in the area where you plan to operate, as they can impact pricing strategies. 

Getting Licensing and Permits

Again, for any business, securing proper licensing and permits is a critical step in establishing a cannabis vape brand. However, in the cannabis industry, this process is much more complicated and, again, varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. 

For a vape brand, you’ll likely need a manufacturing license to produce vape products and, in some areas, a distribution license to transport them. Some areas have caps on the number of permits issued, making the application process highly competitive. 

No matter where you’re applying to launch your vape brand, expect rigorous background checks, financial disclosures, and facility inspections as part of the licensing process. You may also need to obtain permits related to zoning, building safety, and environmental impact. 

Additionally, some jurisdictions require approval from multiple agencies, such as the health department and cannabis control board. All in all, the application process can be lengthy and costly, often taking months or even years to complete. The best tip? Get a lawyer or expert consultant to help you navigate the process. 

Compliance Requirements

After navigating the initial legal and regulatory maze and getting the necessary licensing and permits, remaining in compliance comes into play. Vape products often face additional scrutiny due to concerns over safety and youth appeal. So, compliance requirements will address factors such as: 

• Packaging and labeling laws (including child-resistant packaging)
• THC content disclosure
• Health warnings
• Product testing for contaminants and potency
• And beyond 

Additionally, advertising restrictions may limit marketing efforts, which should be considered when building your vape brand’s overall sales strategy. 

Maneuver Through Taxation and Banking Issues

Although cannabis is legal, medically or recreationally, at the state level in the majority of US states, it’s still not legal at the federal level. Federal law classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance, creating obstacles in financial operations.  This complicates taxation and banking for brands, including vape brands. 

Despite state-level legalization, Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits deducting ordinary business expenses, leading to higher effective tax rates. Maximizing allowable deductions requires meticulous record-keeping and strategic financial planning. 

Limited banking services complicate matters even more for new disposable vape brands. Many financial institutions avoid cannabis clients due to federal regulations. This often results in cash-heavy operations, increasing security risks and complicating financial management. 

Some businesses turn to state-chartered banks or credit unions that are more willing to work with the industry. Alternative financial services, like cryptocurrency or cannabis-specific payment processors, are emerging but come with their own regulatory uncertainties. 

Again, to navigate these issues, it pays to hire the experts. Many cannabis vape brands employ specialized accountants and legal advisors familiar with the industry’s unique challenges. 

Get Production and Supply Chain Management Going

The next step when learning how to start a vape brand? Starting production and getting your supply chain going. Of course, it’s not just going—but going efficiently—that drives profits. To complete our guide, here are the final steps to take when building your high-quality cannabis vape brand. 

Source from the Right Supplier

A common saying in the extract business is “quality in, quality out,” and for vape distillate, resin, or rosin, that means quality flower. Of course, to keep production flowing smoothly, your vape brand will require quality management and reliable partnerships, too. 

A reliable supplier ensures consistent quality and potency of cannabis extracts, which directly impacts product efficacy and user experience. 

The right supplier can also offer a diverse range of strains and formulations, allowing for product differentiation in a competitive market. They can even cultivate custom genetics designed to produce higher levels of terpenes for specific flavors, enhanced cannabinoid combinations for ideal effects, etc. 

Additionally, a trustworthy supplier relationship can provide stability in pricing and supply chain, which is critical for maintaining inventory and meeting customer demand. Beyond manufacturing, ethical sourcing practices, including sustainable or organic cultivation methods, can also elevate your brand’s image and appeal to conscious consumers. 

Set Up Manufacturing Process

Establishing a compliant and efficient manufacturing process is critical for a cannabis vape brand. To do so, here are some simple steps to follow: 

1. You’ll begin by securing a suitable facility that meets zoning requirements. This step, or having a physical location, is often required during the licensing process. 
2. Then, you’ll need the equipment to get rolling. Invest in high-quality extraction equipment, such as CO2 or ethanol systems, to produce pure, quality cannabis oil. If you plan to enter the solventless market instead, you’ll invest in rosin presses and equipment to ice-bathe flower. 
3. Before manufacturing, ensure proper ventilation and safety measures are in place to handle volatile compounds. 
4. Next, implement stringent quality control measures, including in-house and third-party lab testing for potency, purity, and contaminants. 
5. Develop standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for each step of the production process, from extraction to filling and packaging. 
6. Train staff thoroughly on both production techniques and compliance regulations. 

Manage Inventory and Distribution

So, you’ve made the goods; now what? Post-manufacturing, the efficiency of your operations relies on the efficacy of your vape brand’s inventory and distribution processes. Most importantly, your precious extracts have specific storage requirements to retain their original quality and purity. 

Be sure your facility is equipped with cool, dark rooms for inventory storage, and consider this during distribution and transportation to maintain a high-quality brand image, too. To finish, here are a few tips to keep in mind for the most effective inventory and distribution systems for your high quality cannabis vape brand: 

• Establish relationships with licensed distributors who understand local regulations and can ensure compliant transportation. 
• Develop clear protocols for receiving, storing, and handling products to maintain quality and prevent diversion. 
• Regularly audit inventory to identify discrepancies and ensure accuracy. 
• Create efficient routing plans and use secure, temperature-controlled vehicles to preserve product integrity. 
• Maintain detailed records of all transactions and movements for regulatory compliance and business insights. 

Stay Adaptable To The Changing Industry 

If there’s one last thing to learn about the cannabis industry, it’s the fact that it’s ever-evolving. Since the legalization of cannabis began sweeping the nation, cannabis vapes have evolved from distillate .5 g carts to live resin, to 1 g carts to rosin, to varying hardware and styles, and now all-in-one or disposable devices, too. 

So, if you’re learning how to start a vape brand, prioritizing adaptability is a must. That includes equipping your operation with equipment that doesn’t restrict your capabilities when it comes to filling vapes. 

Ready to explore the leading vape-filling machine to power your operations? Vape-Jet is powered by leading technology and AI and was researched and developed in the field for intuitive and efficient filling processes. 

Explore the Vape-Jet difference now to give your high-quality cannabis vape brand the competitive edge it needs to succeed. 

With their discreet, convenient, and nearly odorless characteristics… vape cartridges and all-in-one vapes aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, research shows it’s the second most popular product category in the US, capturing 23.6% of the total market share. 

So, if you’re an aspiring vape brand or looking to expand your existing SKUs to include vape carts or all-in-one devices, this is the guide for you. Here, we’ll answer the question “How to fill vape cartridges” to give you a foundation and the most common mistakes to avoid to help you scale successfully. 

Keep reading for our ultimate guide to filling vapes. 

Get to Know The Different Vape Cartridges

Before we understand how to fill a cartridge with a syringe or automated machines, let’s get familiar with the various types of carts first. In today’s cannabis market, you’ll find a variety of vape devices. The most popular include: 

• 510-thread cartridges: 510-thread cartridges are the most common and compatible with various batteries. However, brands may lose control over the temperatures at which consumers heat their oil. 
• Disposable or all-in-one vape pens: All-in-one or “disposable” devices are another popular product. These devices come with the oil pre-filled and an integrated battery. 

Beyond this, you’ll find varying cartridges or devices within each category. For instance, there are ceramic and metal atomizers to heat oil and varying mouthpieces or other characteristics that can make carts or all-in-one devices unique to one brand. 

Even more, as cannabis concentrates evolve, so does the type of oil that you’ll find in vape cartridges, too. From distillate to live resin, rosin to live rosin, every plant extract, and even every strain and phenotype of the strain or extraction method can affect the consistency of the product to fill the cart with. 

Next, we’ll discuss the importance of proper filling for consumer experience and brand success.

Why Proper Filling Matters

Filling your vape cartridge will directly impact two crucial factors affecting your brand’s success: customer retention or loyalty and your bottom line. Due to the precious nature of the cannabis extract you’re filling, operators need to minimize loss, preserve quality, and increase efficiency for filling carts or all-in-one devices.

If not done correctly, cart filling can affect the end-user’s experience and potentially negatively impact future sales. Accurate filling prevents leaks, ensures consistent dosing, and maintains the integrity of the oil’s chemical profile. 

Overfilling can lead to clogging and waste, while underfilling may result in customer complaints. Using the right equipment and techniques also helps prevent contamination and preserves the terpene profile, essential for flavor and effects. 

Moreover, precise filling practices demonstrate the utmost care and professionalism, building consumer trust. For cannabis brands, mastering this process is critical to standing out in a competitive market and maintaining a reputation for reliability and excellence.

To help, in this section, we’ll detail how to fill vape cartridges appropriately, meet consumer expectations, and improve output. 

What You Need to Know On How To Fill A Cart

Filling carts precisely and adequately is a particular art. In this section, we’ll provide tips to help you achieve that level of mastery. Keep reading as we guide you through filling a vape cartridge step-by-step and then cover the most common mistakes to avoid. 

1. Prepare to Fill Your Vape Cartridges 

First, you’ll want to prepare the vape cartridge or device for filling. Begin by inspecting each unit for any defects or damage. Next, you’ll clean the work area thoroughly and sanitize all surfaces and tools with isopropyl alcohol. 

Before you begin, prepare all the components like a chef and their mise en place. This includes organizing your filling equipment, including syringes or filling machines, and ensuring they are clean and calibrated. If applicable, pre-heat your cannabis oil to the recommended temperature for optimal viscosity. 

2. Filling Your Cartridge

Next is where the magic happens. It’s time to fill the cartridges with the extract using an automated filling machine. 

• Learn How To Fill A Cartridge With A Syringe Or Use A Dropper

Begin by filling the syringe or dropper with the extract. Insert the syringe or dropper tip into the cartridge’s fill port, ensuring it doesn’t touch the center post. Slowly dispense the oil along the inner wall of the cartridge, avoiding the central airflow tube. Fill to the recommended level, typically leaving a small air gap at the top. 

If using a syringe, maintain steady pressure to prevent bubbles. For droppers, count the drops carefully for consistent filling. Pause occasionally to allow the oil to settle and check the level. 

• Utilize an Automated Filling Machine 

If you’re filling carts commercially, using a syringe or a dropper is clearly inefficient. It opens your operation to human error, but it’s also incredibly time-consuming to individually fill carts by hand. Hence, there is an increase in automated filling machines, like Vape-Jet, that precisely and efficiently fill carts for facilities across the US. 

Vape-Jet offers operators an advanced user interface paired with cutting-edge software and a powerful central processing unit to automate cartridge filling. To fill cartridges, rather than using hand-eye coordination, the proprietary machine vision alignment system analyzes whole trays of vape cartridges, aligns the needle overhead, and precisely fills each one to the optimal level.

3. Reassembling 

Carefully reassemble the carts by attaching their mouthpiece or securing other parts of the device or cartridge. 

4. Prime the Vape Cart

On the consumer side, priming a vape cartridge after filling ensures optimal performance and prevents dry hits. To do so, first let the filled cartridge stand upright for up to 30 minutes, allowing the oil to saturate the wick thoroughly. Next, take a few dry pulls (inhaling without activating the battery) to draw oil into the coil. 

When ready to vape, begin with short, gentle puffs at a low voltage setting. This gradual approach helps avoid burning the wick and allows the heating element to warm up properly. 

As you use the cartridge, gradually increase puff duration and voltage if desired. Proper priming enhances flavor, prolongs cartridge life, and provides a smoother vaping experience from the first hit.

Mistakes to Avoid

Again, mastering the art of filling carts isn’t just about knowing what to do; it’s also about knowing what not to do. So, before you go, here are the top mistakes to avoid when learning how to fill a vape cartridge. 

Overfilling 

Overfilling is a critical mistake to avoid when filling vape cartridges, as it can lead to numerous issues affecting product quality and user experience. When a cartridge is overfilled, the excess oil can seep into the central airflow tube, causing clogging and impeding proper vapor production.

This not only wastes valuable product but also risks leakage, which can damage the battery or create a mess for the user. Overfilled cartridges may also experience pressure buildup as the oil heats, potentially causing the cartridge to crack or leak during use.

Furthermore, excess oil can flood the coil, leading to gurgling sounds, spit-back of hot oil into the user’s mouth, and uneven heating that affects flavor and potency. To prevent these issues, it is crucial to follow the manufacturer’s recommended fill line or leave adequate headspace (typically 2-3mm) at the top of the cartridge. 

Using the Incorrect Liquid

As we mentioned earlier, the consistency of the liquid or oil you use for filling carts will affect its efficacy. So, using an incorrect liquid with an undesirable consistency is a mistake you’ll want to avoid. Using the wrong liquid or consistency can cause the vape cart to clog or “spit” by losing material from the mouthpiece, frustrating the consumer. 

Can you fill a cart with a dab?

In general, extracts used for dabbing are not ideal for filling carts. Dabs are often thicker in consistency, allowing the consumer to pick them up on their metal dabbing tool and play on their rig of choice. This consistency is not ideal for filling a cart.

Not Priming

As a consumer, it’s always best to prime your vape cart or all-in-one vape device before using it. Again, as we explained, this helps enhance flavor, prolongs cartridge life, and provides a smoother vaping experience. If you believe your brand’s consumers are unaware of the benefits of priming, consider adding a blurb on your packaging or an insert to explain further. 

Ignoring Safety Precautions

In any job, ignoring safety precautions is always a mistake. Safety should also be the top priority when filling vape cartridges. Always work in a clean, well-ventilated area to minimize exposure to fumes. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including nitrile gloves and safety glasses, to prevent skin contact or accidental splashes. 

Lastly, be cautious of static electricity, which can ignite flammable terpenes; use proper grounding techniques when necessary. 

How Vape-Jet’s Automatic Cartridge Filling Machine Helps

From what you’ve learned here today, you can see why “how to fill a cartridge with a syringe” is an outdated inquiry for cannabis brands today. In the fast-paced and competitive market, brands must stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology to stay ahead of the competition. 

Like those made by Vape-Jet, automatic cartridge-filling machines are ideal for learning how to fill vape cartridges efficiently and profitably. From fully automatic to semi-automatic vape filling and even dab dispensing capabilities, Vape-Jet is the premier source for AI—and tech-powered vape-filling solutions. 
Learn more about the Vape-Jet difference, or explore even more vape resources and education. Ready to get filling carts? Get in touch with our team to begin exploring Vape-Jet for your brand.

Few industries today are more exciting and ever-evolving than the current cannabis industry. From vape carts to pods, all-in-one devices to baller buckets, there’s a fresh product or twist on an old favorite nearly every time a consumer steps through a retailer’s door. 

So, what should you know about the most popular concentrate types for extractors or consumers? Consider this as your guide to all things concentrates. 

Here, we’ll cover all the basics of the best concentrate types, including live resin, rosin, wax, and budders. Keep reading to brush up on all the key differences, explore what’s new across the industry, or learn for the first time as a novice.

Getting To Know The Different Concentrate Types

At their core, concentrates refer to the extracted or “concentrated” oil from cannabis plants. The plant’s flowers are coated in trichomes, bulbous and resinous heads containing a concentrated amount of cannabis’ precious compounds – such as cannabinoids (like THC and CBD) and terpenes. This oil is extracted through various methods (which differ from concentrate types), resulting in varied end-products. Like the ones we’ll learn about next.

Types Of Concentrates

Concentrates provide consumers with a highly potent and premium product to enjoy. Various concentrate types allow consumers to pick and choose which best suits their unique preferences and routines.

Since the market shows no signs of slowing down, with the Brightfield Group, a cannabis analytics firm, projecting it to reach $3.2 billion in 2024 (up from $2.4 billion in 2022), it’s wise to learn as much as you can about extracts to capitalize on their growth. 

To catch you up or clue you in, here are four of the most popular concentrate types in 2024.

Live Resin

The term “live” can be used with resin or rosins and refers to the flower material used for extraction. Rather than using dry, cured flower material post-harvest, the material is immediately frozen, capturing the plant’s essence at the peak of its freshness, hence its “live” nature.

The resin classification simply notes that the concentrate was extracted using solvent-based versus solventless methods. Live resin is most commonly extracted with CO2 or a hydrocarbon blend. Rest assured, the solvents are purged before the end product to ensure the extract is safe. 

Live resins (and rosins) are most commonly strain-specific or made from one cannabis strain to provide the consumer with the purest form of enjoying the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes.

Rosins

Conversely, rosins are solventless extracts that extract the trichomes from plant material using temperature and pressure. Rosin presses use heat to press flower material to separate and collect the oil from the flower without using solvents. 

Because some solvents are used with solvent-based methods (like butane and ethanol), they are considered harmful, but rosin is considered the cleanest concentrate type overall. 

Rosins can also be “live,” where the material is freshly frozen upon harvesting.

Wax

Wax refers to a concentrate type that is, no surprise, wax-like in consistency. It’s typically made with solvent-based extraction methods, like BHO, and has a soft, sticky texture that’s ideal for dab pens or dab rigs.

Budder

Again, like wax, budder refers to a concentrate’s end texture or consistency. It relates to concentrates that are more “buttery” or creamier versus other varying types, like shatter (which is translucent and pliable) or crumble (which is drier and more crumbly).  

The key to the budder’s unique texture is the whipping process. After the solvent is purged, the extract is whipped at a specific temperature. This agitation incorporates air and changes the consistency to a creamy, buttery texture.

How To Use Them 

As innovative as concentrates can be, so are the ways you can use them for consumption. Here are the top ways consumers today are using concentrate types.

Vape Pens or Devices

Piggybacking off of nicotine vape’s popularity are cannabis vapes. These vape devices, whether a 510 cart filled with concentrate, an all-in-one-device or a “disposable” vape, are the most popular with Gen Z and Millennial generations, who make up 70.8% of all vape pen sales based on data from Headset.

Dabs

Dabbing or dabs is the act of flash vaporizing cannabis concentrates with the use of a dab rig, an electronic rig, or a dab pen. With a dab rig, consumers light the “nail” or “banger” of the rig, and when heated to the desired temperature, drop the dab inside with a metal dabber tool and inhale through the rig’s mouthpiece. 

The e-rigs work similarly but heat up electronically rather than using a torch to light the nail or banger. Dab pens contain a removable mouthpiece, where you can place the concentrate or “dab” inside, above the heating apparatus, and upon activating the pen to heat, inhale the vapor through its mouthpiece.

Infused Flower

Some consumers will use concentrate types to infuse their flower by adding them to their bowls, joints, or pre-roll cones, increasing overall strength.

Advantages

Cannabis concentrates offer consumers a few unique advantages, hence their growth in sales and popularity. 

1. Higher potency: Concentrates often contain much higher levels of THC or CBD compared to flower, which can provide a stronger and more immediate effect.
2. Efficiency: Because of their potency, a smaller amount of concentrate is needed to achieve the desired effects, making it more efficient in consumption.
3. Variety of consumption methods: Concentrates can be consumed in various ways, such as dabbing, vaping, adding to edibles, or even infusing flower or pre-rolls.
4. Discretion: Concentrates can be more discreet due to less odor and the ability to consume smaller amounts.
5. Medical benefits: For medical users, the higher potency and rapid onset of effects can be particularly beneficial for managing certain conditions.

Extraction Methods

While we briefly discussed various extraction methods in our concentrate types sections, let’s dive deeper to understand each individually.

Solvent-based extractions

• Butane Hash Oil (BHO): Butane strips cannabinoids and terpenes from plant material. The resulting product can be purged of residual butane to create various concentrates, such as shatter, wax, and crumble.
• CO2 Extraction: This method uses carbon dioxide under high pressure and low temperature to extract cannabinoids. It is considered safe and produces a clean product, often used for vape cartridges and oils.
• Ethanol Extraction: Ethanol is another solvent used to strip cannabinoids and terpenes and is often used to create tinctures and edibles.

Solventless extractions

• Rosin Press: This involves applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower or hash to squeeze out the resin. This method is popular for its purity and simplicity, producing rosin.
• Dry Sifting: Using fine screens to separate trichomes from the plant material, dry sifting produces the resulting product, kief, which can be further pressed into hash.
• Ice Water Extraction (Bubble Hash): Involves agitating cannabis in ice water to separate trichomes, which are then filtered through screens of varying sizes to produce bubble hash.

Hydrocarbon Extraction

• A combination of hydrocarbons (e.g., butane and propane) can be used to extract cannabinoids and terpenes. The process is similar to BHO, resulting in products like live resin.

Distillation

• Involves heating the cannabis extract to separate cannabinoids by their boiling points. This method produces highly pure and potent distillate, often used in vape cartridges and edibles.

Supercritical Fluid Extraction

• Supercritical extraction uses supercritical fluids (e.g., supercritical CO2) to dissolve and extract cannabinoids. This advanced and precise method is often used for high-quality extracts.

Choosing Concentrates

Choosing which concentrate type is best for you, consumption-wise will be subjective, based on your unique tastes, preferences, and needs. A few factors that may weigh in on your decision include – 

1. Medical or recreational use: This can help determine what type of cannabinoids to seek out, i.e., higher concentrations of CBD for certain conditions or higher concentrations of THC for recreational or social use. 
2. How you’ll consume: If you don’t have a dab rig or any flower to infuse, you’ll want to choose an all-in-one device that includes the heating apparatus required to consume. 
3. Your skill level: If you’re new to consuming, it’s best to go low and slow with concentrate types due to their potency. Since dabs require rigs or e-devices that are pretty costly, it might be best to stick to vapes until you’re ready to upgrade. 
4. Budget: Concentrate types can vary significantly in cost from market to market, brand to brand, and type to type. Ultimately, choosing the concentrate type that’s best for you might come down to what you can afford. 

As for extractors, choosing the concentrates you produce will vary depending on the market in which you operate, the types of flower or strains you have access to, the equipment or extraction method you’ll use, and the type of end-product you plan to produce (dabs, versus carts, disposables, etc.).

Quality And Safety Considerations

When buying cannabis concentrates legally, the state’s testing requirements ensure the type is safe to consume. Every concentrate and cannabis product is subject to rigorous testing to ensure it is free of contaminants, pesticides, and other materials, like heavy metals, etc. 

As for quality, research online reviews, ask a trusted budtender, or try the product to see if it meets your requirements (e.g., aroma, potency, consistency, etc.).

Final Thoughts About Concentrate Types

As you can see, concentrate types are ever-evolving and aren’t a fleeting trend. Dabbing and vaping are two of the most popular consumption methods, and the product category is expected to continue to grow. That means if you’re an extractor, competition will only continue to grow, too. 

Optimizing your jar-filling and device-filling game will be crucial to standing out amongst the crowd with a premium, quality product and turning a profit by making your processes that much more efficient. 

Cut down on product losses, preserve concentrate terpenes and cannabinoids, and fill better with Vape-Jet. Learn more about our collection of products that support various concentrate types and leading extractors across the US.

Understanding decarboxylation and how it affects extracts is crucial to vape products’ overall quality and brand loyalty. In fact, a commonly asked question of our team is, “How much decarb loss can we expect with our live resin/rosin?” 

To answer, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to extracts and decarboxylation. Here, we’ll cover all the basics, like the definition of decarboxylation and how the process affects extracts. In addition, we’ll dive deep into what type of decarb loss to expect and how to maintain optimal environments for terpene preservation.  

So, next, let’s get into decarboxylating, a.k.a. decarbing. 

The Decarboxylation Process for Extracts 

Generally speaking, decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxylic acid group from a molecule. For cannabis extracts specifically, when THCa converts to THC upon applying heat, the carboxylic acid group transforms into CO2 gas. Put another way, each molecule of THCa that decarboxylates, degrades into one molecule of THC and one molecule of CO2 gas.

Most of these CO2 molecules bubble out of the extract naturally during the decarb process. However, some will remain in the extract solution and must be removed before filling cartridges, a process called degassing. To do so, extractors must manually agitate the solution to allow the dissolved CO2 to form bubbles and pop; degassing prevents what’s known as “champagne” cartridges—you know, the ones with “bubbly” inside. 

If not degassed after decarb, the oil can foam out of the cart when filling cartridges. This is due to the leftover CO2 bubbling out of solution since it’s naturally agitated while moving through the pump. 

How Decarboxylation Affects Extracts 

Of course, that’s just the underlying basics of decarboxylation for extracts. Beyond ensuring your extract is decarbed for efficient filling, optimal decarbing conditions are essential for ensuring customer satisfaction. 

As we mentioned previously, decarboxylation is the process responsible for changing THCa in an extract into THC. This is an especially crucial step for all-in-one vapes or vape cartridges, as THCa will crystallize if it is above 50% by weight. Once it’s crystalized, it will clog the vape, leaving it otherwise unusable. Likewise, if the oil is too hot or exposed to too much air during decarb, undesirable degradations and losses can occur to the terpenes creating a bland or burnt flavor when vaped; maintaining gentle heating and low oxygen exposure during decarb ensures a tasty vape experience for the consumer.

For Vape-Jet, formulations must be more than 90% decarboxylated to produce a suitable cartridge. If it is not decarbed enough, the heat required to thin the oil sufficiently to pump it into the vape will begin to decarb the oil inside the machine. This will create those bubbles of CO2 inside the cartridge, which cause spills and product loss, or undesirable “champagne” cartridges. All of which can affect an extractor’s bottom line and brand loyalty. 

What to Expect: Decarb Loss with Extracts 

Wondering what to expect from decarb loss with your brand’s extracts? We did the math for you, showing the theoretical maximum loss due to decarboxylation alone. For this part, we’ll assume we’re starting with 100% pure THCa isolate.  

Each mole (a quantity of stuff, not the cute burrowing animal) of THCa weighs 358.478 g, each mole of THC weighs 314.469 g, and each mole of CO2 weighs 44.009 g; the weight of THCa minus the weight of CO2 equals the weight of THC. The maximum theoretical loss due to decarboxylation can be calculated as follows:  

44.009 g CO2/358.478 g THCa = 12.3%

This means that if you completely decarb and degas pure THCa, you will have only THC left and it will weigh 12.3% less than when you started.

In reality, your starting extract destined for high-quality vape cartridges will have lots of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and everything else that makes a full-spectrum vape cartridge so desirable and command a premium price; luckily, most extracts come with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for cannabinoids (a total terpene analysis will be nice to have too!).

Since extracts are predominantly THCa, we’ll go ahead and ignore the other cannabinoids for this next part, but it’s worth noting that THCa isn’t the only cannabinoid that can be decarboxylated.

Decarboxylation of THCa will never reach 100% without distilling the extract, so 90% of the theoretical maximum decarboxylation is a good target; put another way, shooting for 12.3% losses isn’t practical for full-spectrum vape cartridge oil formulations, we’re aiming for 11.07% decarb loss to CO2 (90% of the maximum) for live-resin, live-rosin, or any full-spectrum extract. 

To start, weigh your extract before decarboxylation and multiply that mass by the percentage of THCa to get the total starting amount of THCa; we’ll assume the starting COA says it contains 75% THCa by weight. Taking 11.07% of the total THCa content will give you the mass you’re targeting to lose to achieve 90% decarboxylation; after decarboxylation and degassing, weigh the extract again to get the finished mass. The difference between the starting mass and finished mass will be mostly due to CO2 leaving the extract. 

Now, the example calculation to break down the math a bit further. 

Example calculation: 

Starting extract mass: 1000g

THCa content from COA: 75%

Starting Mass of THCa: 1000g * 75% = 750g 

90% of maximum loss of CO2: 750g * 11.07% = 83.025g 

Finished extract mass target: 1000g – 83.025g = 916.975g 

Optimal Environments for Terpene Preservation 

Another factor to consider when producing an elite vape product is the preservation of terpenes. Terpene preservation is always a losing proposition; even the best genetics, best growing conditions, and most gentile extraction techniques will never result in a terpene profile that is precisely true-to-strain-as-grown inside a vape cartridge, but each step in the process offers the opportunity to at least prevent unneeded terpene loss and degradation. 

Decarboxylation will also affect the extract’s finishing terpene composition to varying degrees, depending on the temperature the process is performed at, the duration of the process, and using a lid vs. no lid. Aleks Zed at Hashtek is putting in the work to elevate everyone’s game with Open Source research into all things hash, and we were super stoked to see his results on this very topic. Please read his findings in full at Hashtek.ca for a deep dive into the crucial question of pressurized vs. atmospheric decarb (i.e. lid vs. no lid). 

TL;DR: terpenes are best preserved during decarboxylation with low temperatures and high pressures in the absence of oxygen. 

So, with all the care taken to grow, extract, and process your extract to preserve as much of those lovely terpenes as possible in preparation for making vape cartridges, you wouldn’t want your vape cartridge filler to foul all that hard work. Vape-Jet helps extractors retain their terp-forward extracts by providing optimal environments for terpene preservation, such as three independent heat zones and a nitrogen-pressurized fluid path for filling. The nitrogen pressure not only allows the heaters to operate at low temperature, but the nitrogen displaces oxygen from the reservoir; low temp and low oxygen are the keys to efficient vape cartridge filling, yielding high-quality flavor as true-to-strain-as-possible for the consumer. 

Vape-Jet: A Filling Solution for Premium Extracts 

In the competitive cannabis industry, standing out among the crowd is as crucial as decarbing. At Vape-Jet, it’s our mission to boost extractors’ success by providing expertly crafted, field-tested, and AI-powered vape-filling products for ground-breaking service and support.  
Take the first step towards revolutionizing your brand’s reputation through a renewed commitment to innovation. Explore Vape-Jet for your cannabis extracts and vape products

When a product offers consumers convenience, value, variety, and accessibility, it’s likely to become increasingly popular. In the modern era of cannabis, these products are disposable vapes. The vaporizing category is quickly evolving, with nearly every 510 cartridge brand, offering or exploring the possibility of offering a disposable vaporizer SKU. 

So, just why are single-use vape pens taking over the market and how can your brand pivot to meet demand? Keep reading to learn all the latest on disposable THC vapes, including the most recent sale statistics, the factors driving consumers to buy, tech advancements, and more.

Current Popularity Of Disposable Vapes

In legalized markets, it’s hard to go into public without seeing someone using their disposable vape. With most Americans living in a state with legal weed – and at least one dispensary in their counties – cannabis use continues to rise. As does the popularity of disposable vapes.  

From the most recent sale statistics, BDSA shows 32% of vape consumers reported using disposable vapes in the last six months, a 25% increase from spring 2020. Beyond that, 17% of the vape consumer group stated that they prefer disposable vapes, a 9% increase from spring 2020.

So, what’s driving the popularity and sales of disposable vapes? Let’s get into the minds of consumers, and review the reasons behind their purchases.

Why Are Disposable Vaporizers Popular?

If you’re not a regular vape consumer yourself, you might wonder – why are disposable vaporizers so popular? Luckily, the same recent research on vape consumers also explored the reasoning behind their purchases. The responses for the top factors were as follows – 

• Ease of use – 57%
• Portability/convenience – 41%
• Discreetness – 36%
• Taste/flavor options” – 28%

To understand each desire more in-depth, we’ll break them down next.

Convenience

Disposable vaporizers are an all-in-one device. With just a push of a button or a draw of the breath, consumers are just a moment away from the puffs they crave. Even more, disposable vaporizers are often compact, making them easier to carry and transport compared to 510 thread cartridges connected to a battery. 

Another convenient factor of single-use vape pens is that they require little to no maintenance. Some consumers may be done with the product before the device even needs charging. If not, charging is typically done with universal chargers, making it that much more convenient. Lastly, unlike vape batteries, disposable vaporizers won’t need periodic cleaning to ensure a good connection between the device and the cart.

Variety & Choice

Single-use vape pens also offer consumers variety and choice. Not just in strains, effects, or flavors, but extract types, too. Today, disposable vapes are compatible with a variety of extracts, such as distillate, live resin, and live rosin. This offers consumers a wide variety of quality, potencies, and prices. 

In addition to shopping for a variety of extract types, consumers can also choose from indica, sativa, or hybrid varieties, flavored or specialty terpene-infused varieties, and strain-specific varieties. These types of options offer consumers a wide variety of flavors and effects to choose from.

Accessibility

Disposable vapes are accessible in two different ways. For one, they’re widely produced, meaning you can find them across the US at adult-use or medical-use retail storefronts, or online, too. Secondly, their low odor and convenience make them highly accessible for consumers to use on the go. Since disposable THC vapes are compact and discrete, they’re easy for consumers to access and take a quick puff when they need it.

Disposable Vaporizer Tech Advancements

Like any product, over the years, disposable vapes have undergone technological advancements. For consumers, that means some single-use vape pens have improved their heating elements, temperature controls, or other mechanics for improved experiences. Now, many disposable vaporizers feature automatic draws, offer longer battery life, universal charging capabilities, etc. 

For operators, how disposable vaporizers are filled has advanced greatly since their emergence on the scene. That includes the implementation of fully automatic (or semi-automatic) vape cartridges and disposable vape filling machines. These advanced machines, like the Vape-Jet, take the manual labor out of filing individual carts, highly optimizing their operations. 

These advancements allow operators to – 

1. Save time without a loading jig – Vape-Jet’s machine vision alignment system can automatically fill carts as shipped in vertically packaged foam trays. Simply unbox the cartridges, place the foam tray into the Vape-Jet, and start filling.
2. Fill precisely – Operators can reduce product loss and protect customer satisfaction, by preventing overfilling, and underfilling with Vape-Jet’s pharmaceutical pump and software-based guided calibration procedures. 
3. Preserve product – As you may or may not know, cannabis plant compounds are delicate and can be volatile. Technological advancements like the 3 individual heat zones and a nitrogen-pressurized fluid path found in Vape-Jet can help preserve the precious parts of the extract, consumers desire and demand. 
4. Adapt to product types – Remember when we mentioned how many varying types of extract products are found in disposable vapes? Advancing equipment like Vape-Jet, allows operations to adapt to these ever-evolving extracts with built-in configuration profiles and flexible automation. 
5. Automatically and quickly clean – The Vape-Jet’s advanced cleaning wizard will get the machine clean, and dry for a new batch with a few clicks. The full cleanup process takes less than 10 minutes and is almost entirely automated.

Altogether, disposable vape-filling machines like Vape-Jet provide the industry with an advancement for efficient manufacturing while helping to provide a quality experience for the consumer.

Who Uses Single-Use Vape Pens?

To answer the question, “Who uses single-use vape pens?” number-wise, an exponentially growing group. A recent analysis of 17 national studies showed that past-month use of cannabis vaping increased 5-fold from 1.6% in 2013–2016 to 8.4% in 2019–2020. 

When it comes to which consumer audiences use single-use vape pens, a clear trend is becoming evident. According to recent data from Headset, the younger cannabis community prefers disposable vaporizers to those of other ages. The data reports that Gen Z and Millennials make up 62.8% of all US cannabis sales and 70.8% of all vape pen sales.

Disposable vaporizers are also popular among beginner consumers. This is due to their straightforward design, simplicity of use, and the fact that they require no additional equipment to operate. 

On the flip side, because disposable vapes cause high amounts of waste, consumers who don’t prioritize sustainability are big users of the products. More sustainable-conscious consumers will opt for a pod system to reduce their overall amount of waste.

Final Thoughts On Why Disposable Vapes Are Taking Over The Market

With advancements across all industries, it’s easy to see – consumers desire technologically advanced, convenient, and accessible products. Hence the popularity of disposable THC vapes. However, when it comes to their disposable vape products – they also desire a quality and flavor-forward experience. 

To succeed in the highly competitive market of cannabis, brands should take their vape-filling game seriously. Especially considering the type of equipment they use, or the quality of it, can affect their vape’s end-result in flavor and potency. 

Explore Vape-Jet’s fully automatic or semi-automatic disposable vape-filling machine or our entire collection of automated equipment for advanced extractors. Learn more about the Vape-Jet team or dive even deeper into disposable vaporizer education with more blogs now.