The practice of using vaping devices to consume marijuana is on the rise, especially among the younger generation. These vaping devices are often referred to as vaporizers, vape pens, and vapes. When you combine the two, vaporizers and marijuana, just how safe is vaping marijuana? Here are some things you should know about the two before consuming marijuana through a vaping device.
- How cannabis is vaped
Batteries and small metal coils are used to heat the marijuana in vaporizers. There are three forms of cannabis: oil, herb, and wax. The type of vaporizer is dependent upon the format of the cannabis.
Herb vaporizers heat the dried marijuana that is placed in a chamber. The marijuana then evaporates and is inhaled. Herb vaporizers have settings that control the amount of vapor and flavor you inhale.
An oil concentrate can be extracted from the cannabis plant. The oil concentrate is added to an oil pen. Vaporized oil is more potent than an herb that is vaporized. The pens come either as single-use disposable pens or as reusable vaporizers with oil cartridge attachments. The cartridges come in different flavors and strains of cannabis.
Wax is a substance extracted from the cannabis plant. It is more potent than herb or oil. The wax is heated using a coil and vaporized in the atomizer.
- Benefits of vaping
Medical marijuana can be consumed via vaping as well. There are some benefits to vaping medical marijuana. These include the following benefits:
- Vaporizers can be used in more places than cigarette or cannabis smoke.
- Vaporizers provide a cleaner and potent hit.
- Vaporizers provide a consistent dose of THC concentrations, and the effects are immediate.
- Vaporizing THC products reduces the number of carcinogens that nearby bystanders are exposed to.
- Vaporizer doses are more potent when compared to pipes and joints. Less cannabis is needed to achieve the same results, and not as much needs to be inhaled.
- Vaporizers are less messy and easy to use
- Vaporizers minimize the smell of cannabis since it isn’t burned.
- Is vaping safer than smoking?
Smoking causes you to inhale hot pieces of debris that irritate the lining of your lungs. It can also cause chemical reactions that result in inhaling toxic compounds. Vaporizers don’t burn leaves as smoking does. Instead, the vaporizers create a much easier aerosol on the lungs.
- There are several warnings about vaporizers that everyone should take into account.
A severe respiratory illness that has led to lung injuries has been linked to THC-infused vaping products. Vaping products using THC should be avoided. Vaping puts you at greater risk for cancer, heart disease, and lung disease.
- There are harmful ingredients in vaping products.
Some of the harmful ingredients in vaping products include carcinogenic compounds, heavy metals, flavorants, and ultrafine particulates. Some of the chemicals used for THC can result in potentially dangerous compounds when heated. The tiny metal coils can break off over time and end up in the aerosol you inhale. Vaping fluids can contain small particles that are inhaled and irritate the lungs. Different flavors can contain diacetyl which is a fluid that has been linked to lung issues.
- Dispensaries are one of the safest places to purchase vaporizer products.
When purchasing vaporizer products, dispensaries are one of the safest places to buy these products. When it comes to the black market, you don’t always know what’s in the vape product, which could put your health at greater risk. Always make sure that the products purchased are legal, well tested, and well documented.
- Which vaporizers are the safest?
Some forms of vaporizers are safer than others. Oils and waxes can be modified during the manufacturing process to enhance the flavor or consistency, so sometimes what you are getting is not in its purest form. It’s hard to mask the dried herb without noticing that there is something off. You can visibly see and smell mold, mildew, and rot on the dried herb.
While vaping marijuana may be less harmful than smoking since it exposes you to fewer toxic ingredients, some risks are still involved. More research is on the horizon to understand the health risks associated with vaping and vaping products that contain THC.
