Also known as: S&B · Storz Bickel

Storz & Bickel

German vaporizer hardware company known for the Volcano and Mighty devices, owned since 2018 by Canopy Growth.

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↯ The honest take

Storz & Bickel make some of the most clinically studied cannabis vaporizers on the market — the Volcano in particular shows up in legitimate pharmacokinetic research, which is rare for vape hardware. That's a real distinction, not just marketing. But 'used in studies' doesn't equal 'medically approved for you,' and the devices are expensive. Treat them as well-engineered consumer hardware with unusually good documentation, not as medical devices unless you're using a specific regulated model in a regulated context.

What it is

Storz & Bickel GmbH is a German manufacturer of electrically powered cannabis and herbal vaporizers, based in Tuttlingen. The company was founded in 1996 by Markus Storz, who developed the original Volcano desktop vaporizer; Jürgen Bickel joined as co-founder, and the first commercial Volcano shipped in 2000 ^[1]^[2]. The company designs and manufactures its devices in Germany and sells them globally as consumer hardware. It does not produce cannabis itself.

Ownership and corporate structure

In December 2018, Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corporation acquired Storz & Bickel for approximately €145 million in cash ^[3]^[4]. Storz & Bickel continues to operate as a subsidiary of Canopy Growth, retaining its German manufacturing base and brand identity. Canopy Growth is publicly traded (TSX/NASDAQ: WEED/CGC), and Storz & Bickel's results are consolidated into Canopy's financial reporting rather than disclosed in standalone detail ^[5].

Market and category focus

Storz & Bickel sits in the ancillary hardware category — companies that sell tools used with cannabis but do not handle the plant. Its focus is dry-herb and concentrate vaporization using convection or hybrid conduction-convection heating, with both desktop (plug-in) and portable (battery) form factors. Some Storz & Bickel devices have been registered as medical devices in jurisdictions including Germany and Canada under medical cannabis frameworks; product registration status varies by country and model and should be checked directly with the company or local regulator before relying on it ^[2]^[6].

Notable products

The Volcano is the company's flagship desktop vaporizer, using a balloon ("valve bag") delivery system that has been used in published pharmacokinetic and clinical research on inhaled cannabinoids ^[7]^[8]. Subsequent generations include the Volcano Digit, Volcano Hybrid, and a medical-classified Volcano Medic / Medic 2 sold in some markets ^[2]. The Mighty and Mighty+ are portable battery-powered vaporizers; the Crafty+ is a smaller portable; and the Plenty is a corded handheld with a whip. This profile does not endorse any specific model — feature sets, prices, and regional availability change frequently, and buyers should compare current specs and warranty terms directly. No data

Reputation and research use

Storz & Bickel devices, particularly the Volcano, are unusually well represented in peer-reviewed cannabis research. Hazekamp and colleagues evaluated the Volcano's efficiency at delivering THC in 2006 ^[7], and Abrams and colleagues used it in a clinical pharmacokinetic study comparing vaporization to smoking ^[8]. This research footprint is frequently cited by the company and reviewers as evidence of consistent dosing, which is a fair characterization for the specific models and conditions tested — not a general claim about all S&B products or about clinical efficacy for any condition. Strong evidence for the narrow point that the Volcano has been validated as a delivery method in controlled studies; Weak / limited for broader marketing claims extrapolated from that work.

Controversies and regulatory notes

Storz & Bickel has had relatively few public controversies compared to other vape hardware makers. The most notable category is intellectual property: the company has pursued patent and trademark enforcement against competitors over balloon-delivery and vaporizer designs, with various disputes filed in U.S. and European venues ^[9]. As a Canopy Growth subsidiary, the brand is exposed to its parent's broader financial and regulatory environment, including Canopy's restructuring and U.S. market entries; this profile does not assess parent-company solvency or strategy. Devices marketed as "medical" carry different regulatory obligations than consumer hardware, and classification differs by country.

Availability and legal-market notes

Storz & Bickel sells through its own websites in supported regions and through authorized retailers; some models are also distributed through medical-cannabis pharmacy channels in Germany and Canada. Availability, warranty terms, and whether a device is sold as a consumer or medical product vary by country. Vaporizer import is restricted or taxed in some jurisdictions. Confirm regional availability, voltage compatibility, and warranty handling with the company or an authorized seller before purchase.

What to verify before relying on brand claims

Before treating any Storz & Bickel marketing claim as fact, check: (1) whether the specific model you're considering is the one referenced in a cited study — research on the original Volcano does not automatically apply to newer or portable models; (2) the current regulatory classification in your country (consumer vs. medical device); (3) warranty length and whether service is handled regionally; (4) whether "clinical" or "medical" language reflects formal regulatory approval or just internal product naming. Profile last checked: 2025.

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Jun 8, 2026

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