If you use prescribed cannabis flower, a herb grinder is one of the most useful accessories you can own. It helps prepare your flower for use in a dry herb vaporiser, making the process easier and more efficient.
In this guide, we’ll explain what a cannabis grinder is, why you need one, how to choose the right grinder, where to buy one in the UK, and how to keep it clean.
A weed grinder, also known as a herb grinder or cannabis grinder, is a small device with sharp teeth designed to break cannabis flower into smaller, even pieces.
For patients using prescribed cannabis flower, grinding your medicine is an important step before placing it into a dry herb vaporizer. In the UK, medical cannabis can be prescribed for a range of symptoms, such as chronic pain and mental health conditions.
When cannabis flower is evenly ground:
Using a grinder also makes preparing your medication quicker and easier than breaking the flower apart by hand.
Prescribed cannabis flower has to be ground up in a“grinder” before being put in a dry herb vaporizer. Whilst you could use your fingers, this may result in a more inefficient use of medicine. Keep reading to find out why these devices are essential.
We recommend purchasing a metal grinder, as plastic and wooden grinders can be harder to clean. Plastic grinders may last a shorter amount of time, and there is a risk of scraping plastic off of the grinder over time. If your grinder has plastic flakes coming off of it, it may be time to purchase a new one!
You do not need to buy an expensive grinder. Inexpensive grinders (around £5-10) can be purchased online, from “vape shops”, or in cannabis accessory retailers known as “head shops”. Metal and wooden grinders may range from £5 all the way to £50, however it is not necessary to purchase an expensive one. Plastic grinders typically cost around £1- £5.
There is also the option of an electric grinder, which can be beneficial for those with mobility issues.
Grinders typically have either 2, 3, or 4 pieces. If you are using a 2 piece grinder, during step 2 stop grinding after a few seconds and tip your flower onto a clean surface. 3 piece grinders will have holes where the flower falls through. You can consider the size of these holes whilst purchasing your grinder, as different vaporizers may recommend a certain size of ground flower, e.g. coarse or fine.
You may not want to grind a large amount of flower at once if you’re not using it all soon, as cannabis flower can get drier quicker once it has been ground. Watch our video below to learn about a few types of grinders, what they look like, and how to use them.
Although technically you could use your fingers to break apart your flower medication, this may result in a less efficient use of flower. You may be using more than is needed to produce the same effect. Grinding your cannabis flower offers several benefits overall:
Evenly ground flower allows hot air to pass through more effectively, helping your vaporizer produce smoother and more consistent vapour.
Smaller pieces expose more surface area, allowing your prescribed flower to heat evenly without wasting material.
Ground flower fits neatly into your vaporizer chamber, making loading quicker and less messy.
TIP: You will need to clean your grinder every few months, to make it easier to use. You can also reuse isopropyl alcohol until it goes dark brown!
Stay tuned for an educational video from our team on how to clean your herb grinder. In the meantime, please visit this video on YouTube for visual instructions.
