Vaping FAQs

is vaping weed from a reputable company dangerous

by Assunta Macejkovic III Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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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

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 marijuana more potent than smoking it?

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.

Are Cannabis vaporizers safe?

All that said, "true vaporizers are absolutely safe," he noted. Some vape pens may not be vaporizing at all. Of all the methods of ingesting cannabis, vaping (short for "vaporizing") has grown the most in popularity in recent years. It involves heating — but not burning — cannabis and then inhaling the vapor.

Is it safe to vape CBD?

The safety of CBD vaping products is still unclear. Vape pens and carts are largely unregulated (with the exception of those from a medical marijuana dispensary). As such, ingredients can vary and may include chemicals linked to EVALI. The CDC advises against vaping nicotine or THC, but it does not specifically say to avoid CBD vape pens. 5

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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.

How old are e-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 .

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.

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.

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.

How much does a dry herb vape cost?

Cannabis enthusiasts say dry herb vaping has a better flavor and milder smell than smoking. A good quality dry herb vape starts at about $200, but the expense could be worth it for people who smoke cannabis regularly.

How long does it take for vaping to work?

If you are new to vaping, it is generally recommended to start low and go slow. If you aren't feeling the desired effect after 15 minutes, you can take a little more.

What do vaporizers use?

Unlike traditional cigarettes that burn leaves to make smoke, vaporizers use batteries and small metal coils to heat a substance until it evaporates and is then inhaled. For this reason, they're often referred to as vapes, vape pens, and vaporizers. But not all devices vaporize the same way.

Can you smoke cannabis with a vape cart?

Dry herb vapes have a stronger odor that can linger in a room for about 30 minutes, but is easier to mask than smoking. And unlike smoking, vaping does not typically cling to clothing and skin.

Is vaping marijuana harmful?

Vaping marijuana might expose you to fewer toxic ingredients than smoking it, but it's far from harmless. A lot more research is needed to fully understand the health risks associated with vaping in general and vaping products that contain THC.

Is vaping bad for you?

Keep in mind that the use of e-cigarettes and vaping in general puts you at a greater risk of lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. 12 And though you are not smoking nicotine, that doesn't mean you aren't ingesting other harmful toxins.

Is vaping weed harmful?

Vaping weed might seem like a less harmful alternative to smoking, but it’s not entirely harmless. In addition to the health risks associated with THC, vaping itself can be potentially damaging to a person’s health. 4

How to test the theory of vaping?

The easiest way to test the overall theory behind vaping marijuana is to test the chemicals given off by a vaporizer. If it’s true that combustion doesn’t occur and this makes it safer to vape, you’d see a reduction in the amount of harmful chemicals given off, compared to the smoke from a joint.

How does smoking cannabis affect your heart rate?

Heart rate increased by 12.2 beats per minute half an hour after smoking , and 10.7 bpm half an hour after vaping. An hour and a half after the dose, people who ate the cannabis saw a 13 bpm increase in heart rate, which dropped to 10.2 bpm after three hours. Only those who smoked the cannabis had increases in the amount of carbon monoxide exhaled, which continued up to 6 hours after smoking, compared to the vapers, who showed no such increase.

What was the first vaporizer?

An early model of vaporizer called the Tilt was released in the 80s, and it was also the subject of one of the first tests of the overall theory. The device was tested at 185 to 195 °C and the emissions were compared with those from a similar sample smoked from a clay pipe. The results showed a 79 percent reduction in tar, no detectable carbon monoxide, an 80 percent increase in THC and a 60 percent increase in CBD. Overall, the ratio of THC to tar was increased by eight and a half times, showing that you get much more of what you’re looking for with a drastic reduction in harmful components. Other early studies were similarly positive but limited by the poor design of vaporizers at the time.

How much THC is in the volcano?

The testing showed that the vapor produced by the Volcano was 95 percent pure THC, with one suspected cannibinoid, an oil deriving from the cannabis plant and one polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (a PAH – a family of toxic chemicals) making up the rest of the mixture.

Does vaping reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals?

Overall, the evidence on cannabis vaping is limited but appears to paint a consistent picture: vaping rather than smoking reduces your exposure to toxic chemicals and likely does much less damage to your body.

Does smoking cannabis cause carbon monoxide?

Only those who smoked the cannabis had increases in the amount of carbon monoxide ex haled, which continued up to 6 hours after smoking, compared to the vapers, who showed no such increase. Yet again, the evidence is admittedly limited but ultimately points to vaping as a way to reduce harm compared to smoking cannabis.

Is vaping hard evidence?

As with nicotine vaping, this isn’t hard evidence and you do need experimental confirmation to back this assumption up. And from there, ideally there would be some further indication that this reduced exposure to harmful chemicals resulted in fewer health issues as a result. However, it’s important to remember this and not lose sight of the pretty solid rationale behind vaping instead of smoking to reduce health risks.

Why do people vape?

Those who choose to vape note that they get more enjoyment and positive benefits from their cannabis use because of the mindfulness required to do it successfully. Novice users also tend to find vaping easier to manage.

What is the difference between smoking and vaping?

As the name implies, smoking marijuana involves burning the plant and inhaling the smoke, which delivers the cannabinoids. Vaping, on the other hand, creates a vapor using heat, which is breathed in to create the “high”.

Is vaping more affordable?

In other words, there’s almost twice as much THC in the vapor, which can produce a stronger, longer-lasting high. And as a side note, this also makes vaping more affordable. Although a vaping cartridge for instance at an Arkansas marijuana dispensary is more expensive than a similar ounce of marijuana, it lasts much longer ...

Does vaping cause anxiety?

A study at Johns Hopkins found compared participants’ high after vaping or smoking different doses of marijuana, and found that those who vaped had were significantly more impaired and had a greater likelihood of experiencing negative effects (such as anxiety, paranoia, and vomiting) compared to those who smoked.

Can you vape over smoking?

It’s not only your lungs that can benefit from vaping over smoking. The entire experience of using marijuana can be improved with a vape pen or vaporizer.

Is vaping marijuana more dangerous than smoking?

The simple fact that they made headlines has some people asking whether vaping marijuana is actually more dangerous than smoking. The answer isn’t as simple as it might appear. In truth, the only thing that most doctors can agree on is ...

Does vaping cause respiratory problems?

However, in general, vaping is less likely to lead to illnesses like bronchitis or respiratory infections than smoking. READ RELATED STORY. Vaping Travel Essentials. Doctors note that the benefits of vaping, including a decrease in coughing, phlegm production, and chest tightness, are less likely to occur among those who vape, ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

How many people have died from tainted vape cartridges?

Apparently, at least 13 Americans have died as a result of tainted THC vape cartridges. While the news has been disturbing, it’s important for people to understand where tainted THC products come from — and where they don’t come from. Check out the infographic below regarding safe vaping use, and then continue reading as we dive into the subject and separate fact from fiction:

Is THC a cause of lung disease?

When people read national headlines that decry THC vape cartridges as the cause of death for rising numbers of individuals, they aren’t getting the full picture. THC is not causing lung disease — it’s actually the harmful chemicals that are used to cut black market vape cartridges. Residents of Philadelphia, PA, with eligible conditions can get medical marijuana and THC vapes that are completely free of vitamin E acetate and other harmful chemicals.

Does vaping kill you?

In other words, vaping THC does not kill people — but vaping THC cartridges laced with vitamin E acetate could be causing fatal lung disease in some patients. Unless you are buying black-market THC products, you should have nothing to worry about. When medical marijuana and prescription THC products are prescribed to patients, they go to a state-licensed dispensary to get their medicine. You can rest assured that medical marijuana dispensaries do not sell tainted THC, because their products are subject to strict legal regulations.

Why is it important to be cautious when using cannabis?

Amanda Winn Lee of “A Mom’s Guide to Cannabis” says people under the age of 25 should exercise extreme caution when using cannabis because a young adult’s brain is still growing and neural development is still occurring.

How long does it take for a puff of cannabis to take effect?

Inhaled cannabis can take 10 to 15 minutes to take effect. “You can take a whole lot of puffs in that time,” Tishler said. “Restraint is a good policy.”. But for users under the age of 25, restraint is the best policy. Many health officials have changed the antiquated “Just Say No” campaign to “Delay, Delay, Delay.”.

How many states allow recreational cannabis?

There are currently 10 states that allow for recreational cannabis use and more than twice as many that allow people to use the substance for medically approved reasons. Because of these changes, more people have become open to the idea of trying cannabis for the first time.

Does vaping make you high?

A recent study determined that vaping cannabis can produce a significantly stronger high than smoking the drug. Researchers suggest people trying marijuana for the first time build up a tolerance to the drug before vaping it.

Is vaping a good way to consume cannabis?

Vaping has become a popular way for people to consume cannabis. In this manner, the cannabis is housed in a thin, pen-like device. It’s less odorous and more discreet than smoking. Many users also find it much less irritating on their throats than traditional smoking.

Is there a fatal overdose on cannabis?

While a fatal overdose on cannabis has yet to occur , the major risk to any casual cannabis user is overintoxication, which is directly tied to dose, Tishler said.

Does THC affect reaction time?

But no matter the dose, researchers in this small double-blind placebo trial found that no matter the amount of THC, those who vaped marijuana reported more powerful effects, including serious impairment in their reaction time and overall cognitive abilities.

How many deaths have been caused by nicotine?

It has so far been attributed to 47 deaths and 2,290 confirmed and probable cases in the United States. Most news coverage — and proposed legislative response — has focused on nicotine products like Juul, whose CEO stepped down amidst these public health concerns, replaced by an executive at Altria, a cigarette empire.

Is it reasonable for people to be skeptical about the amount of attention being paid to VAPI?

Depends who you ask. Andrew Hathaway, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Guelph in Canada, says it’s reasonable for people (i.e., vapers) to be skeptical about the amount of attention being paid to VAPI. “Not to diminish the tragedy, but when you see this panic in a country of 300 million people, that has the markings of a moral panic,” he says. “I think there is some cause to be cynical about that.”

Is vaping weed safer than smoking weed?

In short — yes, potentially. Vaping THC oil has become a popular alternative to smoking weed in recent years, largely due to the product’s convenience, lack of odor, and potency. Just as Juul likely captured segments of the otherwise non-smoking market, weed pens are especially attractive to marijuana newcomers. “It gave people who weren’t your committed chronic pot smokers — your soccer moms, your grandmas — a way to enjoy the benefits of cannabis consumption without the fear of smoke-related harm,” says Hathaway. And much like Juul has been promoted as being inherently safer than smoking cigarettes, advertising for liquid cannabis cartridges tends to promote their ability to deliver a “cleaner” high.

Can you buy THC vapes from unlicensed retailers?

Many marijuana advocacy organizations have warned consumers not to buy THC vape products from unlicensed retailers. Meanwhile, the CDC currently recommends total abstention from vaping THC. Before the CDC identified vitamin E as a causal factor, the Cut spoke to a range of experts who study and work with cannabis to determine best practices for cannabis users both casual and frequent in this period of vape-related uncertainty.

Is it safe to vape without vitamin E?

This is not to say that we know all THC cartridges without vitamin E are totally safe ; because these products are relatively new, and regulations vary state-to-state, there’s still a lot we don’t know about vaping’s safety. Annoyingly, when we say “vaping,” we could be referring to the use of either e-cigarettes or cannabis, thereby conflating the two. In the early months of the vaping crisis, the weed-related part of the story flew under the radar, except on cannabis-specific sites like Leafly.

Is marijuana safer than alcohol?

All but the most committed stoners agree that marijuana is never entirely without risk — though, importantly, many researchers also believe marijuana is safer than both cigarettes and alcohol. If vaping THC oil is, for the time being at least, an unstudied method of cannabis consumption, what’s the best alternative?

Is it hard to get THC from a distillate?

Kaufman worries that lax regulation will allow sellers to prioritize profit over safety, particular in vaping products. “Getting THC distillate is not hard at all,” he says. “It’s relatively inexpensive to do a hydrocarbon extraction for THC, and there’s such a profit to be made that I think it’s the Wild Wild West.”.

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Chemical Emission Studies

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The easiest way to test the overall theory behind vaping marijuana is to test the chemicals given off by a vaporizer. If it’s true that combustion doesn’t occur and this makes it safer to vape, you’d see a reduction in the amount of harmful chemicals given off, compared to the smoke from a joint. An early model of vapor
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Self Report Studies

  • There are a few studies worth mentioning that depend on self-reporting from users. The first two are quite simple and basically show that users perceive a health benefit from vaping marijuana as opposed to smoking it. These studies are both fairly recent – one from 2014 and one from this year– but users in both of them identified harm reduction as a key reason for vaping marijuana r…
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Clinical Studies

  • Lab-based studies of people using vaporizers are the best way to look at the precise effects vaping has on users, and there are a few such studies that can be drawn on to answer the question: is vaping marijuana safe? One of these studies, mentioned earlier, showed a reduction in the carbon monoxide exhaled after vaping vs. smoking, but there are a couple of others that it’s …
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Concerns About Oils and Concentrates

  • The research presented so far specifically addresses vaporizing cannabis plant material, but many vapers use oils and concentrates in devices more like traditional vape pens. These are still likely to be safer than smoking cannabis because they still avoid combustion and the slew of toxic chemicals that come with it. However, there are some additional concerns about vaping oilsand …
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