Wide open on the cano Classic is about 440 F. That's nearly to combustion point. You're getting high temp vapor, which is very harsh and has a lot of the same toxins as smoke.

Somewhere between 5.5 and 7.5 would be a better setting. That covers the range between about 363 and 406 F. Personally, I would go for a setting of about 6-6.5, but 9 is definitely too high for a nice, clean vapor high.

I would tell your friend he might as well be smoking and you're not interested in vapor that's close to combustion temp.