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Format guide

Flower (for Vaporization)

Flower is raw, dried cannabis — the closest form to the plant as it grows. Under Kentucky's medical program, flower is legal for vaporization only; smoking raw plant material is prohibited under KRS 218B. Vaporization heats the flower below combustion temperature, releasing cannabinoids and terpenes without producing smoke.

Onset

Within minutes (fastest onset of any format)

Duration

1–3 hours

Bioavailability

20–40% of inhaled cannabinoids reach the bloodstream

Best for

  • • Breakthrough pain and acute symptoms where speed matters
  • • Patients who need fine-grained titration by breath count
  • • Full terpene experience (aroma is the medicine here too)
  • • Patients avoiding sugar, oils, or capsule ingredients
Cautions

Watch-outs

  • • Requires a dry-herb vaporizer designed for cannabis (not a nicotine device)
  • • Immunocompromised patients should consult their doctor — inhalation isn't for every patient
  • • Vaporization temperature affects which terpenes you extract (lower = lighter and clearer, higher = more sedating)
Kentucky law

Kentucky's program permits raw plant material for vaporization only. Combustion (lighter + paper) remains prohibited under KRS 218B, even for registered patients.

Deep dive
Flower is the format most Kentucky patients start with because it's the most controllable — one draw, wait ten minutes, decide if you need another. That kind of titration is hard to replicate with edibles or capsules. A quality dry-herb vaporizer runs $60–$300 and lasts years. Look for one with adjustable temperature — start around 340°F to preserve the lighter, uplifting terpenes (limonene, pinene) and step up to 400°F+ for a heavier, more sedating extraction of myrcene and heavier compounds. Cannabinoids fully volatilize by about 420°F; going higher just wastes plant material and adds harshness. Every batch of Kentucky-grown flower comes with a Certificate of Analysis. The COA shows the cannabinoid profile (THC, CBD, and minor cannabinoids by percent), the terpene profile (at least the top 6–8), and pesticide, heavy metal, and microbial testing. Reputable dispensaries show the COA without hesitation. If yours doesn't, ask. Store flower in an airtight glass jar out of direct light. Boveda or Integra humidity packs (58% or 62% RH) keep terpenes from evaporating and keep the flower from getting brittle.
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Educational information only. Kentucky's medical cannabis program requires registration under KRS Chapter 218B and a practitioner's written certification. Always start at the lowest effective dose.