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 inhaled through the device. However, vaping marijuana isn’t safe in general, and in some ways, it may be more dangerous than smoking weed.
Both smoking and vaping marijuana generally have been considered safer than smoking cigarettes (or vaping with nicotine products, which may introduce new health hazards rather than reducing all harm).1 When it comes to vaping marijuana, “safer” may not be true, either.2
Bhat TA, Kalathil SG, Goniewicz ML, Hutson A, Thanavala Y. Not all vaping is the same: differential pulmonary effects of vaping cannabidiol versus nicotine. Thorax. 2023 Sep;78(9):922-932. doi: 10.1136/thorax-2022-218743.
This article looks at the potential harms of vaping marijuana, how to identify them, and how vaping marijuana compares to vaping nicotine.
What Are Marijuana Vapes?
Marijuana vaporizers are typically pen-like devices with an opening to inhale the vapor from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oils, or to use marijuana concentrates made from parts of the cannabis plant that contain high THC levels.3
The vape heats up the product but keeps it below the threshold of combustion. People inhale the vapor or aerosol, but the lack of smoke doesn’t necessarily make CBD vape pens safe.
There are different types of marijuana vaporizers:4
Disposable vape pens: These lightweight pens are pre-filled with cannabis oil and can be used out of the box. The entire pen is disposed of once the oil is used up.
Refillable vape pens: These pens come with a rechargeable battery and a refillable cartridge to use the cannabis oil of your choice. Some have adjustable voltage and temperature controls.
Dry herb vape pens: These pens consist of a heating chamber that you fill with dried marijuana flower rather than cannabis oil. Instead of turning the flower into smoke, it heats it below combustion so that a potent vapor is produced.
Dual-use vape pens: These pens have both a heating chamber for dried flower and a refillable cartridge for cannabis oil.
Dab pens: These pens have a coiled heating element that vaporizes cannabis oil concentrates. These include concentrates called “budder,” “crumble,” and “shatter” which respectively have a a buttery, crumbly, and brittle texture.
In addition to marijuana flower and cannabis oil, there are synthetic cannabinoids made in the lab that you can use in vaping cartridges or mix with dried flower.4
Is Vaping Marijuana Safe?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says vaping of any kind can cause or contribute to lung disease.5 Serious cases of EVALI (electronic cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) have been linked to vaping cannabidiol (CBD) oil.
CBD products are largely unregulated, so it’s possible that the oils contain dangerous substances.
Some people prefer to vape marijuana due to the milder smell, ease of use, affordability, and dose consistency. Some studies suggest that in some ways (lower carbon monoxide risk, for example) it may be safer than smoking.6 With what’s known about it right now, though, experts say it isn’t safe—or even safer— to vape marijuana.
Source: VeryWellHealth
