Vaping marijuana is often touted as safer than smoking it. That's because vaporizers heat—but don't burn—herb, oil, or wax forms of marijuana. However, vaping marijuana isn't safe in general, and in some ways, it may be more dangerous than smoking weed.
Full Answer
What is marijuana wax and is it dangerous?
Marijuana wax can cause serious problems for those who consume it, and even creating the drug is dangerous. THC labs are appearing all over the US, especially in western states, where cannabis laws have been relaxed. These labs are nearly as dangerous as meth labs because the process of creating wax involves explosive materials.
Is vaping cannabis bad for your health?
Many people understand that smoking is bad for your health, and that would certainly include smoking marijuana. This has prompted many cannabis users in recent years to start vaping cannabis as a supposedly healthier and less smelly alternative. E-cigarettes were introduced as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco.
Is vaping cannabis a safer alternative to smoking?
This has prompted many cannabis users in recent years to start vaping cannabis as a supposedly healthier and less smelly alternative. E-cigarettes were introduced as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco. However, teenagers quickly discovered their potential for inconspicuous marijuana use.
Can smoking wax make your mental health problems worse?
People who have existing mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, can make these conditions worse when they smoke traditional marijuana. Wax increases the negative symptoms associated with these mental disorders worse, more frequent, and more disruptive.
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What is weed wax?
Weed wax is a highly concentrated form of marijuana, typically the color of honey with a consistency closer to Jello or butter. Wax is derived from marijuana plants but can have up to eight times the concentration of THC compared to the buds people typically smoke.
What does marijuana wax look like?
Marijuana wax looks like it sounds: A sticky, syrup-like substance that’s robust enough to hold its form on a flat surface after it’s cooled. It is typically tinted yellow and may be kept on wax paper (right after it’s been made) or in small containers.
What Is the Wax Drug?
Weed wax is a highly concentrated form of marijuana, typically the color of honey with a consistency closer to Jello or butter.
Why does marijuana burn?
Burns when smoking or making marijuana oil are also common. That’s because making it typically requires butane, a highly volatile and flammable gas. In 2015, more than 30 people were injured from butane explosions involving marijuana wax or oil in Colorado alone, reports the Los Angeles Times.
How many people were injured in the 2015 butane explosion?
In 2015, more than 30 people were injured from butane explosions involving marijuana wax or oil in Colorado alone, reports the Los Angeles Times. Oftentimes the victims of these accidents were not the people making or using the drug, as we’ll see in the next section.
Is weed wax bad for you?
The Dangers of Weed Wax. Marijuana and its concentrates are similar to other drugs in that they stimulate dopamine in the brain and can have an impact on brain chemistry. The long term effects of THC exposure to the brain are not definitive, but some studies have shown THC exposure can lead to cognitive decline, ...
Is oil brownie dangerous?
Edibles like oil brownies, cookies and cake are common and especially dangerous because they risk being consumed by people unaware of their contents . Dispensaries commonly sell weed oil lollipops and other candy. Predictably, the psychological effects, or highs, are much more intense from wax than from smoking the plant.
The Dangers of Vaping Marijuana
So why should vaping this psycho-active drug matter if marijuana is legal for recreational use in several states throughout the U.S.? Although there have not been cases of people overdosing on intaking Cannabis, the psychoactive drug can still negatively affect a person’s brain development.
Understand the Signs of Vaping Marijuana
Vape pens make it easier for teens to discreetly inhale marijuana wherever they are. The vape pens are easy to conceal and look like stylus pens or USB jump drives, which makes them harder to get caught. You may not be able to detect the scent of marijuana when it’s used through a vape pen either.
Spread Awareness About the Dangers of Vaping Marijuana
As more states begin to legalize or decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana, cannabis products are more likely to fall into the hands of adolescents and pre-teens. However, marijuana and other THC products are still illegal in the hands of minors and adolescents.
What are the organs that are at risk when vaping?
When teens vape marijuana they’re putting two vital organs at risk: their brains and their lungs. The brain of an adolescent or young adult continues to grow and develop well into early adulthood, and is busy developing critical skills related to problem-solving, impulse control, anticipating consequences and more.
What are the symptoms of vaping?
Symptoms of this vaping-related lung illness, also known as EVALI ( E -cigarette, or V aping, product use A ssociated L ung I njury), include: 1 Shortness of breath 2 Weight loss 3 Night sweats 4 Fatigue 5 Gastrointestinal problems 6 Low oxygen levels 7 Lung failure and death (in severe cases)
What is a PAX vape?
Marijuana vaping devices often resemble vaping devices used for nicotine or other e-liquids. For example, PAX is a brand of marijuana vaporizers that closely resemble the popular JUUL devices. Those seeking to vape marijuana can also learn how to “hack” nicotine vapes to work with marijuana from countless YouTube videos and other online resources.
How to tell if your child is vaping?
How to recognize if your child is vaping marijuana. Vaping can be difficult to detect as there is no smoke, minimal odor (although you may catch a whiff) and the vapor produced dissipates rapidly. However, just like smoking, vaping marijuana can result in bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and thirst, increased appetite and shifts in behavior and mood.
How likely are teens to become addicted to marijuana?
Research also shows that teens who use marijuana are twice as likely as adults to become addicted to it.
Is Vitamin E acetate illegal?
Although the majority of marijuana vaping devices containing Vitamin E Acetate were bought through illegal channels, there have been several cases where the additive was identified in vaping products purchased from regulated marijuana dispensaries.
What makes vaping concentrates appealing to teenagers?
One thing that makes vaping concentrates appealing to teenagers is that they’re easy to conceal. Homemade wax does not look like a drug of abuse. As mentioned above, it resembles chapstick or lip balm. And the devices used to vape oils and other concentrates can also look innocent.
What is the most common form of marijuana used in vaping?
This article is about the use of marijuana concentrates, which is the form of the drug used when vaping. There are several forms of concentrates. Oils are the most common, and typically used in the most widely available vape pens. Wax is the next most commonly used concentrate, and has a soft, malleable texture similar to lip balm.
How Many Teens Smoke Marijuana or Use Marijuana Concentrates?
The annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, published in collaboration with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the University of Michigan, collects data from over forty thousand students in 8 th, 10 th, and 12 th grade each year to establish a reliable evidence base for the prevalence of drug use among teenagers.
How much THC is in a concentrate?
Data shows that while the average THC content in leaf marijuana is around 14 percent, the average THC content in concentrates is anywhere from 54-99 percent.
What is the difference between wax and shatter?
Wax is the next most commonly used concentrate, and has a soft, malleable texture similar to lip balm. Shatter is the least commonly used concentrate, and comes in hard, amber-colored form similar to peanut brittle. These concentrates are manufactured using various processes.
How much can a drug lab be fined?
Fines can be as little as $2,000 and as large as $50,000. Terms begin at around one year, but can be longer. Courts can order the convicted operator of a drug lab to pay for any damage resulting from accidents or explosions and/or the costs incurred by law enforcement for cleaning up the lab.
Did hippies smoke marijuana at Woodstock?
This is Not the Marijuana Hippies Smoked at Woodstock. After alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is the most commonly used and abused drug among teenagers in the United States. Teen marijuana use became widespread in the 70s, dipped in the 80s, and steadily increased through the 90s, the 2000s, and 2010s. When marijuana vaping products became available ...
Why does marijuana wax make you pass out?
As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, cannabis typically induces a sense of calm, relaxation, and slowed time; high concentrations of THC found in marijuana wax have caused people to pass out almost immediately, which led to one man falling and hitting his head on the floor. He died from head trauma.
How much THC is in a hit of wax?
Dried marijuana leaves rolled into joints, cigarettes, or vaporized typically contain 5 to 28 percent THC.
How Is Marijuana Wax Made?
Other solvents may be used, but butane is the most common and the most dangerous. The solvent is filtered through a tube containing marijuana leaves, stripping the THC out of the leaves. Butane is then burned off, or allowed to evaporate, leaving behind a sticky residue containing high concentrations of THC.
What happens if you smoke weed?
Increased heart rate. Increased blood pressure. Formication, or feeling like there are bugs on or under the skin. People who have existing mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, can make these conditions worse when they smoke traditional marijuana.
Why are THC labs dangerous?
These labs are nearly as dangerous as meth labs because the process of creating wax involves explosive materials. Fires and explosions in THC labs have become so common that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) warned about potential explosions associated with these drug production facilities.
What is the most dangerous solvent?
Other solvents may be used, but butane is the most common and the most dangerous. The solvent is filtered through a tube containing marijuana leaves, stripping the THC out of the leaves. Butane is then burned off, or allowed to evaporate, leaving behind a sticky residue containing high concentrations of THC.
Is wax bad for you?
Wax increases the negative symptoms associated with these mental disorders worse, more frequent, and more disruptive. Because oil, budder, and wax are fairly new substances, long-term side effects are unknown. However, it is likely that they are similar to side effects of smoking dried, leaf marijuana, but more harmful.
How much THC is in a concentrate?
The concentrates can contain up to 90 percent THC and, to make it worse, they can also contain decidedly unhealthy substances like lighter fluid and pesticides. The Yale study concluded that rates of vaporizing cannabis using e-cigarettes were high.
How many high school students in Connecticut have tried marijuana?
However, teenagers quickly discovered their potential for inconspicuous marijuana use. In 2015, Yale University researchers surveyed 3,847 Connecticut high school students and found a surprising number of the kids—close to 30 percent—admitted having tried marijuana or hashish.
Can you use butane hash oil in e-cigarettes?
Concentrated liquid forms of marijuana are even more problematic. So-called butane hash oil (BHO) can be substituted for the nicotine solution in many e-cigarettes, and some vendors even sell e-cigarettes specifically designed for use with marijuana leaves or wax infused with THC.
Can e-cigarettes vaporize cannabis?
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, also discovered that nearly one in five e-cigarette smokers have used the device to vaporize cannabis or byproducts like hash oil. Many physicians believe that marijuana use is especially problematic for teenagers and young adults.
Does marijuana affect the brain?
Studies show that regular marijuana use can change the structure of the teenage brain, specifically in areas dealing with memory and problem-solving. Unfortunately, the risk perception among children for marijuana use has decreased significantly in the last decade. The low-risk perception is even greater among 18–24-year-olds for 2014.
Is vaping bad for you?
The Dangers of Vaping Cannabis. Many people understand that smoking is bad for your health, and that would certainly include smoking marijuana. This has prompted many cannabis users in recent years to start vaping cannabis as a supposedly healthier and less smelly alternative.
Is smoking marijuana bad for you?
Many people understand that smoking is bad for your health, and that would certainly include smoking marijuana. This has prompted many cannabis users in recent years to start vaping cannabis as a supposedly healthier and less smelly alternative. E-cigarettes were introduced as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco. However, teenagers quickly discovered their potential for inconspicuous marijuana use. In 2015, Yale University researchers surveyed 3,847 Connecticut high school students and found a surprising number of the kids—close to 30 percent—admitted having tried marijuana or hashish. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, also discovered that nearly one in five e-cigarette smokers have used the device to vaporize cannabis or byproducts like hash oil. Many physicians believe that marijuana use is especially problematic for teenagers and young adults. Krista Lisdahl is the director of the Brain Imaging and Neuropsychology Lab at the University of Wisconsin. She told NPR, “It’s a mistake for teenagers to use cannabis.” “It’s the absolute worst time because the mind-altering drug can disrupt development. Think of the teen years as the last golden opportunity to make the brain as healthy and smart as possible.” Studies show that regular marijuana use can change the structure of the teenage brain, specifically in areas dealing with memory and problem-solving. Unfortunately, the risk perception among children for marijuana use has decreased significantly in the last decade. The low-risk perception is even greater among 18–24-year-olds for 2014. In that cohort, 86.5 percent perceive no great risk from smoking marijuana once a month, the highest low-risk perception of all age groups. In view of these figures, it is hardly surprising to find that widespread marijuana use continues into adulthood. A recent Gallup poll found that 19 percent of 18–29-year-olds are current marijuana users. The same poll revealed that 13 percent of all adults are current cannabis users, up from 7 percent in 2013. Gallup concluded that “states’ willingness to legalize marijuana could be a reason for the uptick in the percentage of Americans who say they smoke marijuana, regardless of whether it is legal in their particular state.” At the same time that the perception of cannabis as harmful is fading, the potency of the drug has increased dramatically in recent decades. Marijuana potency is measured in percentage levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), its main psychoactive ingredient. The buds currently vaped in e-cigarettes are 15–20 times more powerful than the weed baby boomers smoked in the 1970s. Concentrated liquid forms of marijuana are even more problematic. So-called butane hash oil (BHO) can be substituted for the nicotine solution in many e-cigarettes, and some vendors even sell e-cigarettes specifically designed for use with marijuana leaves or wax infused with THC. The concentrates can contain up to 90 percent THC and, to make it worse, they can also contain decidedly unhealthy substances like lighter fluid and pesticides. The Yale study concluded that rates of vaporizing cannabis using e-cigarettes were high. “These findings raise concerns about the lack of e-cigarette regulations and the potential use of e-cigarettes for purposes other than vaping nicotine.” “The increased use of e-cigarettes by teens is deeply troubling,” says CDC Director Tom Frieden. “Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. Many teens who start with e-cigarettes may be condemned to struggling with a lifelong addiction to nicotine and conventional cigarettes.” They also continue to be popular among young adults. According to the CDC, e-cigarette use is significantly higher among 18–24-year-olds.
Why are cigarettes dangerous?
The reason cigarettes are dangerous isn’t because of the nicotine. The tar and other chemicals that cause emphysema or cancer make it so dangerous. Burning or inhaling is a bad idea. That’s why we will probably discover that marijuana is bad for your lungs, too.”.
What is the active ingredient in marijuana?
Two drugs that are a synthetic laboratory version with chemical structure of or similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another active ingredient in marijuana, are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Why are e-cigarettes bad for youth?
These are similar in nature to vaporizers used for marijuana, and can greatly impact youth because of the potential cancer-causing substances they release.
Can smoking marijuana cause damage?
Smoking marijuana can cause damage with rupture to the walls of adjacent alveoli (small air sacs in the lungs) into larger, ineffective air sacs called bullae. The risk is higher in male smokers under the age of 45.
Does smoking marijuana cause bronchitis?
This is associated with an increased likelihood of developing chronic bronchitis. The inhalation patterns when smoking marijuana are different than when smoking cigarettes.
Is marijuana good for you?
Health benefits of marijuana. Marijuana may provide calming effects that improve certain mental and physical conditions. For instance, a doctor might recommend medical marijuana to people with Crohn’s disease as an alternative way to ease inflammation, nausea, and vomiting .
Is smoking marijuana harmful?
It’s important to keep in mind that it’s the chemicals in smoke that can be harmful, regardless of what you’re puff ing on. Marijuana contains over 450 different chemicals, some of which are linked to cancer.
How to know if rosin is good?
When looking to buy a high-quality product, there are a few things to keep in mind. Good rosin should have a strong smell, just like the flower it came from. If it does not have much of a smell, it is most likely subpar quality. It should also be a translucent, light amber color and the hue should be consistent throughout. If the substance is dark and opaque, it is no good. The last thing to look for is that there is no remaining plant matter. There should not be any specks or particles of plant matter present if it was made correctly.
How to use rosin concentrate?
There are a few different ways you can consume rosin. First, is inhalation. You can dab your rosin. It is essentially wax without the solvent. You will get to experience the full flavor. Another quick and easy way to inhale is vaping it. Just make sure your vape is concentrate-safe. Don’t use it in a dry herb vape as it can damage your vaping device. You could also put some rosin on top of some cannabis flower in a bowl or pipe. The other way to consume rosin is with edibles. You can make your own at home, but you may want to decarboxylate the rosin first to achieve maximum potency. You can also purchase edibles at dispensaries.
What is rosin?
Rosin, also called SHO (solventless hash oil) is a pure cannabis concentrate made without any solvents. What makes rosin unique is that it is the cleanest and purest type of concentrate. Rosin’s is created with no added chemicals; because of that, it is therefore healthier than other extracts as well as safer and quicker to make. Utilizing nothing other than heat and pressure, it is no wonder why it is becoming one of the most sought-after concentrates on the market today.
Why is rosin so popular?
Rosin is one form of cannabis concentrate that is now gaining more attention because it is produced without solvents like many other concentrates are.
Why is rosin different from BHO?
Rosin is different because it is not extracted using any chemicals at all. Therefore, the final product will be 100% pure. It is a light amber color and looks much cleaner than BHO (butane hash oil) and other types of solvent-extracted substances.
How is rosin extracted?
How rosin is different from other extracts. Most extracts are produced by using some form of chemical solvents such as butane, propane, or alcohol . Even after purging, the products generally still have some residual solvent remaining.
How to store rosin?
When storing your rosin, you should use a silicone container because the substance is very sticky. Glass is not recommended as it is harder to get the rosin out of than silicone. You should also keep your rosin in a relatively cool, dry, dark, place. Generally, light, air, heat, and moisture should be avoided.
