Vaping FAQs

is vaping medical thc safe

by Ocie O'Conner Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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With what's known about it right now, experts are saying no, it isn't safe—or even safer— to vape marijuana. THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol

Tetrahydrocannabinol is one of at least 113 cannabinoids identified in cannabis. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. With chemical name-trans-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol, the term THC also refers to cannabinoid isomers.

, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the substance in marijuana that gets you high. Research suggests that vaping THC oil—which is a common form among vapers—may damage your lungs and increase your risk of negative side effects.

Vaping THC Is Not Safer Than Smoking It
Other health experts warn that vaping marijuana may even damage the lungs more so than smoking or vaping nicotine. 25 This doesn't mean that vaping nicotine is safe, but that vaping THC oil is thought to create a greater amount of lung damage.
Apr 28, 2022

Full Answer

Is vaping actually safer than smoking?

Neither smoking nor vaping is beneficial to human health. Based on the available evidence, smoking appears to be more harmful than vaping. However, this does not mean that vaping is safe. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vaping may be slightly less harmful than smoking.

Is vaping worse than smoking weed?

Teens who inhale cannabis via vape pens are more likely to develop breathing problems than those who vape tobacco products or even those who smoke either cigarettes or marijuana joints, according to research appearing in the Journal of Adolescent Health this spring led by University of Michigan nursing professor Carol Boyd.

What are the health risks of vaping marijuana?

  • Shortness of breath
  • Weight loss
  • Night sweats
  • Fatigue
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Low oxygen levels
  • Lung failure and death (in severe cases)

Why is vaping better for you than smoking?

Vaping yields better flavor than smoking. Vaping gives you a better taste of the flavonoids, and you’re able to feel the flavors of the different brands of marijuana products you’re vaping. Therefore, vaping delivers a richer and purer vapor, unlike smoking, which produces several other substances that mask the flavors of your joint.

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Why do we use terpenes in vape pens?

Instead we use cannabis-derived terpenes in all of our vape pens to reduce the viscosity of cannabis extracts for vaping.

When was THC a warning?

On September 6, 2019 , the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer/health professional MedWatch safety alert titled, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing Vaping Products: Vaping Illnesses. Today, CannaMD takes a closer look at what the FDA warning says and what medical cannabis patients need to know about marijuana vaping products.

What Medical Marijuana Products Contain Vitamin E Acetate?

A number of Florida medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs), or dispensaries, have issued statements in response to the FDA’s warning.

How many deaths are associated with e-cigarettes?

To date, there have been over 450 possible cases of lung illness and five deaths associated with the use of e-cigarettes. ( UPDATE: As of September 27, the number has risen to 805.) The FDA and CDC are currently investigating a number of factors that could contribute to adverse reactions, including: nicotine, THC and other cannabinoids along with cutting agents/diluents and other additives, pesticides, opioids, poisons and toxins.

What is the most common THC product?

The most common THC product that was reported was marketed under the ‘Dank Vape’ label.

How to report a poisoning to the FDA?

In addition to submitting an online report via the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal, individuals who experience adverse reactions are also encouraged to contact their local health care provider and/or call their local poison control center at 1 (800) 222-1222.

What is an e-cigarette?

Note: E-cigarettes are devices that deliver an aerosol to the user by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. E-cigarettes can also be used to deliver marijuana or other substances.

What Is THC?

Both CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common cannabino ids found in cannabis products. And even though they are both found in marijuana and hemp, THC is more prevalent in the marijuana plant than it is in the cannabis plant.

What is the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis?

Both CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis products. And even though they are both found in marijuana and hemp, THC is more prevalent in the marijuana plant than it is in the cannabis plant.

How many teens use marijuana in 2018?

In fact, in 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults had used marijuana in the last year. Meanwhile, the number of teens in 8th and 10th grades who say they use it daily also has increased. Additionally, nearly 4% of 12th graders say they vape THC daily. 2 . Vaping THC oil involves heating the oil and inhaling it through a vaporizing device ...

Is vaping safe?

But the issue is that vaping hasn't been around long enough and there isn't enough research to really determine whether or not it's safer. Recent research suggests that vaping THC oil, especially oil that contains vitamin E acetate, can be particularly harmful to your lungs. 3  Vitamin E acetate, which is regularly added to THC ...

Is it safe to vape THC oil?

Some people believe that vaping THC oil is safer than smoking because it doesn't involve inhaling smoke. But the issue is that vaping hasn't been around long enough and there isn't enough research to really determine whether ...

Is marijuana on the rise?

Still, people are experimenting with the drug more and more frequently by either smoking it, eating it, or vaping it. Marijuana use, and more specifically vaping THC oil, is on the rise according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In fact, in 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults had used marijuana in the last year.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Meanwhile, another study published in Addiction found that while vaping nicotine may be safer than smoking cigarettes, the same may not hold true when it comes to marijuana. 7  In fact, additives, like vitamin E acetate may make that delivery method even more dangerous than simply smoking a joint, putting the vaper's lungs at a greater risk for injury. Yet, a Gallup Poll indicates that most Americans believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. In fact, 40% of the respondents felt that marijuana was "not too" harmful. 8 

How does temperature affect vaping?

The temperature that you use when vaping also affects the quality of your vapor. Harmful toxins enter your vapor when higher temperatures are reached – starting at trace amounts at 392°F and continue in higher amounts as temperatures increase to combustion. Using lower temperature settings on your vaporizer can help keep your vapor clear of harmful compounds.

What is vape tested for?

The best vape products are tested for residual solvents and other chemicals that might make their way into finished products. All Medical Marijuana, Inc. CBD products, including our vape oil and liquid, is held to our strict Triple Lab Tested™ standard.

Is vaping safe?

In general, vaping is a safe method for consuming your favorite botanicals. However, with some considerations, you can help ensure that every vape session is as safe and enjoyable as possible. The safety of your vaping sessions will be affected greatly by the quality of the materials that you vape. Not all dry herbs, waxes, oils, ...

Can you vape with CO2?

When looking at concentrates like waxes, oils, and liquids, choose products that are made with non-toxic solvents like CO2. Any dry herb you vape should be cultivated without chemicals that can then transfer toxic components to the vapor you inhale. This will further protect you against potential contamination of your vapor by residual chemicals.

Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?

Many consumers begin vaping to avoid the dangers of smoking. That is because smoking burns botanical material to release its active ingredients, but it also produces carbon monoxide and other dangerous byproducts that can negatively affect your health.

Why is vaping so popular?

Vaporizing cannabis has grown in popularity in recent years due to its convenience, discretion, and perceived health benefits. But there are safety concerns.

Why are vape pens going under?

But with cannabis testing regulations going into effect July 1, Green believes many vape brands will go under due to a lack of compliant product and increased costs related to compliance. "So, you're going to start to see some consolidation among the brands," he said. "There won't be 45 vape pens on the shelf.".

What heating element is used in vape pens?

The actual heating element can vary, from ceramic to glass to metal. Green said the nichrome (or nickel-chromium) wire — the same type of heating mechanism you'll find in a toaster — is the most common heating element found in vape pens.

What is the silver tip on a vape pen?

Green said many vape pens also have silver tips (the part you suck on), which are nickel or chrome plating . "You don't see those on medical devices because they aren't safe," he said. (He said Dosist uses medical-grade plastic for its exterior.)

How hot does cannabis oil need to be to be aerosolized?

While cannabis oil only needs to be heated between 160- and 190-degrees Celsius to begin to aerosolize, vaping devices do not heat evenly or consistently. People also use the products differently.

Where are vape pens made?

Jeremy Green, COO of vape pen company Dosist, noted that almost all vape pens are made in Shenzhen, China, which bills itself as the headquarters of the e-cig industry. (Vape pens are made from the same device as e-cigarettes.) The actual heating element can vary, from ceramic to glass to metal.

Is propylene glycol safe to use?

Although the FDA classifies it as "generally recognized as safe," there are concerns about propylene glycol when it's heated to high temperatures, according to a 2015 report by Jahan Marcu, chief scientific officer for Americans for Safe Access.

Desktop Vaporizer

We’re going to start with the desktop vaporizer since it’s the largest of the group. It’s a lot like comparing desktop computers to laptops.

Vape Pen

Next we have the better known, and more popular, vape pen. There are so many different kinds of vape pens such as Yocan Magneto, Rokin Nitro, Clout OOZI Magnum, and Dr. Dabber Aurora.

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What is the difference between vaping flower and cannabis oil?

If you are vaping concentrated cannabis oil in a cartridge or other concentrates these are much more potent than vaping flower. Concentrates and concentrated oils can contain between 70-90% of cannabinoids, where cannabis flower will contain between 5-30% of cannabinoids. Keep this difference in potency in mind when medicating and choosing a product to vape.

Why does vaping make me cough?

Vaping should not produce a cough or smell. If vaping does produce a cough, it is a sign that the heat of the vaporizer is too higher. When lowered, it should eliminate any cough.

What temperature should a vaporizer be?

The highest temperature vaporizers should reach is 428° F. THCV and CBC vaporize at this temperature, while all other cannabinoids and terpenes vaporize below this temperature. Vaporization boils off cannabinoids and terpenes at different levels depending on the temperatures needed to boil off each cannabinoid or terpene.

How much does a desktop vaporizer cost?

Desktop vaporizers can be expensive to purchase, ranging from $150-$700.

What terpenes boil off first?

Light terpenes boil off first, followed by THC and pinenes. These are followed by limonene and mycrene, and then CBD and CBD, and lastly THCV and CBC.

What can portable vaporizers be used for?

Portable vaporizers can be used with more products including wax, concentrates, and concentrated oils.

When was vaping invented?

Vaping was invented in the early 1990s by a Native American named Eagle Bill, who lived in the Netherlands. Eagle Bill used a hot air paint stripping gun to heat cannabis, but only to the point in which the active cannabinoids and terpenes were boiled off, below the temperature of burning the cannabis which happens when smoking. The vapor produced was captured in a jar. This vapor didn’t have the taste or smell of cannabis smoke. It was much more floral, tasty, and mild. Vaping became a preferred method of using medical marijuana that has developed and spread rapidly since Eagle Bill’s first invention.

How many people died from vaping in 2020?

As of Jan. 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 60 deaths in patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).

Why are e-cigarettes so popular?

First, many teens believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Second, e-cigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigarettes.

How many chemicals are in e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. While we don’t know exactly what chemicals are in e-cigarettes, Blaha says “there’s almost no doubt that they expose you to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes.”

How many people want to quit smoking?

If you have thought about trying to kick a smoking habit, you’re not alone. Nearly 7 of 10 smokers say they want to stop. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health — smoking harms nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. Nearly one-third of deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking and secondhand smoke.

Is vaping bad for you?

Is vaping bad for you? There are many unknowns about vaping, including what chemicals make up the vapor and how they affect physical health over the long term . “People need to understand that e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous to your health,” says Blaha. “Emerging data suggests links to chronic lung disease and asthma, and associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease. You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe.”

Is nicotine a substance?

Nicotine is the primary agent in both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is also a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

Can you use THC in a vape?

The CDC recommends that people: Do not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Avoid using informal sources, such as friends, family or online dealers to obtain a vaping device. Do not modify or add any substances to a vaping device that are not intended by the manufacturer.

What about vaping?

Vaping marijuana involves inhaling heated oil through a vaporizing device , often referred to as an e-cigarette. Vaping marijuana can also refer to using a vaporizer, such as a Volcano, to produce vapor from dried plant material.

How long does it take for vaping to work?

Both smoking and vaping have an almost immediate effect on the body. Their effects peak within 10 to 15 minutes.

How long does marijuana last?

Effects are often long lasting — anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. For this reason, it’s important to start slowly. Consume a very small amount if you’re ingesting marijuana for the first time. For example, a common dose for edibles is 10 milligrams of THC. If you’re just starting out, opt for 2 to 5 milligrams of THC.

What is it called when you mix marijuana with tobacco?

Some people mix their marijuana with tobacco, so it’s a bit less potent (this is called a spliff).

What are the negative effects of smoking weed?

Some negative health effects associated with chronic weed smoking include: air pockets between the lungs and lungs and chest wall. chronic bronchitis. cough. excessive mucus production. possible increased risk of infection in immunocompromised people, such as those with HIV.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Some people believe vaping is safer than smoking because it doesn’t involve inhaling smoke. But the reality is, when it comes to vaping marijuana, there’s much less known about the negative health effects.

Is marijuana safer than smoking tobacco?

One of the more well-known cannabinoids is called CBD. For this reason, some people believe smoking marijuana is less dangerous than smoking tobacco.

Why are People Concerned about Safety when Vaping Legal Marijuana?

Foremost among them are difficulties in breathing. This led to increasing reports of what later came to be known as EVALI.

What is illegal vape?

Untested, unregulated, and illegal vapes can be made of the contaminated marijuana plant that is blended with low-quality, harmful ingredients. And, these are usually misrepresented or not disclosed to consumers. So, when a person buys marijuana from a wrong source, it can have pesticides, mildew, mold, artificial flavorings, vitamin E, heavy metals, and synthetic cannabinoids.

How many states allow marijuana?

Just 33 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands, have approved comprehensive, accessible marijuana/cannabis health programs. Supported efforts in 13 states allow you to use low THC and high cannabidiol (CBD) products for medical reasons in limited situations or as legal recourse.

What states have medical marijuana laws?

Since then, 32 more states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands have passed similar laws. As of June 25, 2019, 14 states ...

How many scientific abstracts are there on marijuana?

In early 2017, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine issued a report based on a review of more than 10,000 scientific abstracts of marijuana health research. They also made 100 health-related findings and suggested ways to improve cannabis research.

Is vaping a good alternative to smoking?

Some people have even switched from smoking cannabis to vaping. That’s because they consider vaping a healthier alternative to smoking as it does not involve combustion. Virtually, vaping eliminates the smoke and concerns associated with it.

How many states have legalized cannabis?

As of June 25, 2019, 14 states and territories have approved adult cannabis. As of January 22, 2018, the Vermont State Legislature passed a law to legalize adult use, and the governor signed the bill. This measure does not establish a system for regulating sales or production. See the measure text below.

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