Decreased respiratory symptoms in cannabis users who vaporize

Abstract

Cannabis smoking can create respiratory problems. Vaporizers heat cannabis to release active cannabinoids, but remain cool enough to avoid the smoke and toxins associated with combustion. Vaporized cannabis should create fewer respiratory symptoms than smoked cannabis. We examined self-reported respiratory symptoms in participants who ranged in cigarette and cannabis use. Data from a large Internet sample revealed that the use of a vaporizer predicted fewer respiratory symptoms even when age, sex, cigarette smoking, and amount of cannabis used were taken into account. Age, sex, cigarettes, and amount of cannabis also had significant effects. The number of cigarettes smoked and amount of cannabis used interacted to create worse respiratory problems. A significant interaction revealed that the impact of a vaporizer was larger as the amount of cannabis used increased. These data suggest that the safety of cannabis can increase with the use of a vaporizer. Regular users of joints, blunts, pipes, and water pipes might decrease respiratory symptoms by switching to a vaporizer

Electronic Cigarettes and Cannabis: An Exploratory Study

“…These results are compatible with previous reports [8,9,10]. Thus, vaping cannabis eliminates both the exposure to toxic combustion products and to nicotine, as cannabis is often mixed with tobacco when smoked.…”

“…The characteristics of users of e-vaporizers have seldom been described, and almost exclusively with the Volcano [4,7,8,9,10]. However, many portable vaporizers have appeared recently [2,3].…”

“…The use of e-vaporizers to inhale cannabis has already been studied, albeit mainly in the laboratory (rather than in the population), and mainly with nonportable devices, in particular the Volcano vaporizer [4,7,8,9,10]. The Volcano is a large vaporizer that heats cannabis at a temperature where cannabinoids are vaporized (200°C), but below the combustion temperature (i.e.…”

“…In volunteers, the plasma THC levels were similar when using the Volcano device and when smoking cannabis, but the device delivered no carbon monoxide (because there is no combustion) [4]. Respiratory symptoms are decreased and respiratory function is improved in cannabis users who vaporize cannabis instead of burning it [9,10]. The Volcano is often used to administer cannabis for medical reasons, and an international survey found that it is the most frequently used cannabis vaporizer [13].…”

Controlled Cannabis Vaporizer Administration: Blood and Plasma Cannabinoids with and without Alcohol

“…and decreasing adverse respiratory symptoms (13 ). THC is highly lipophilic, rapidly distributing to highly perfused tissues, and later to fat (14 ).…”