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What are the different types of weed pens?

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Last updated on Mar 31, 2025

Created on Nov 25, 2022

cbd oil with weed, different pens and marijuana leaf around it

Article written by

April AcernoContent Writer

Content reviewed by

Dipak HemrajMedical Cannabis Researcher

Table of contents

  1. Types of weed pens
  2. The bottom line: Find a weed pen that suits your vaping needs
  3. Resources

Cannabis vape pens (aka weed pens) are lightweight, pocket-sized devices that vaporize the compounds in cannabis. They vary in:

  • Size 
  • Technological features
  • Price
  • What kind of cannabis material they’re used for (oils, flower, or concentrates)

It’s important to understand how cannabis vape pens differ from one another to choose the best option for your needs.

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What are weed pens?

‘Vape pens’ or ‘weed pens’ are catch-all terms for devices that vaporize cannabis materials. They’re called ‘pens’ because of their compact design that can resemble a regular pen. They come in a variety of designs, features, capabilities, and sizes.

Most weed pens share the same components. They include:

  • A battery, which delivers electricity to the rest of the device
  • A cartridge that holds and heats the cannabis material 
  • A mouthpiece to inhale the vapor easily 

Some vape pens require that you press a button to produce vapor, while others work simply by inhaling through the mouthpiece. 

More advanced vape pens allow for precise temperature adjustments, or feature an LCD screen that shows the device’s battery life and different heat settings. 

Types of weed pens

There are three main types of weed pens, each designed for a specific type of cannabis material: oil, dry flower, or concentrate.

Oil pens

Oil pens are for vaporizing cannabis extracts, also called ‘vape oils.’ There are two types:

  • Reusable vape pens, also known as 510 vape pens, which contain a built-in, rechargeable battery
  • Disposable vape pens, which contain a built-in oil cartridge and non-rechargeable battery 

510 vape pens get their name from the 510-threaded connection at the top of the battery, which attaches the disposable oil cartridge to the device. The oil cartridges are purchased separately, and the vape pen is reusable, as it can be recharged.

Disposable vape pens feature a sealed oil cartridge that’s fixed onto the device, and a battery that lasts for roughly as long as the oil in the cartridge. When the oil runs out, the whole device is thrown away.

Cannabis vape oils come in different strains and extract types. Some extracts, like live resin and THC liquid diamonds, are particularly potent, producing stronger effects.

Some disposable pens may contain ingredients or fillers considered unsafe for inhalation. Read package labels and stick to licensed dispensaries to ensure you’re buying a safe product.

Dab pens

Dab pens, also known as wax pens, are for vaporizing cannabis concentrates, nicknamed ‘dabs.’ They contain many of the same components as oil pens, but require a little more knowledge to operate. 

Dab pens have empty chambers that hold and heat concentrates. Concentrates must be heated to high temperatures to melt into oil, which then turns into vapor. Other types of vape pens don’t reach such high temperatures.

Concentrates are far more potent than cannabis flower or traditional extracts. Consider vaping concentrates only if you have a high THC tolerance.

Dab pens are widely considered safer and more user-friendly alternatives to dab rigs, which are non-electronic devices that require a blowtorch to heat concentrates to the ideal temperature. 

Flower vape pens

Flower vape pens, also known as dry herb vape pens, are portable devices for vaping cannabis flower. They’re usually larger than other vape pens, but consist of the same basic components.

Flower vape pens contain chambers that hold and heat ground cannabis flower. They’re heated through conduction, convection, or a hybrid between the two, to vaporize the flower without causing combustion.

You might prefer flower vape pens because vaping cannabis is more discreet than smoking it. Vapor dissipates more quickly than smoke and leaves behind less of an odor.

High-quality flower vape pens can last for a very long time, leaving less of an environmental impact compared to other types of pens. 

The bottom line: Find a weed pen that suits your vaping needs

Weed pens can provide a portable, discreet, and user-friendly way to consume cannabis on demand. Consider the type of cannabis material you want to vaporize, and find a pen that matches your preferences and experience level.

Resources

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Connect with a licensed physician online in minutes.

  • Larger purchase limits
  • Access to higher potency strains
  • Save up to 40% on product taxes
  • Enhanced legal protection

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pen weed to get?

That depends on what you want out of your vaping experience. It's important to compare features, price, and size to find a pen that suits your needs.

What is the average cost of a weed vape pen?

Weed pens can cost anywhere from $15 to $100 depending on their design, size, battery, and cannabis materials used. Some dab pens and flower pens can cost over $150, but these are higher-end devices that are built to last for a long time.

Are weed pens legal?

For the most part. Non-disposable devices are legal throughout the country. Disposable vape devices that contain cannabis oils are banned in states where cannabis is not legal.

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