Thirty-six states and four territories have legalized cannabis for therapeutic use, with 15 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia considering adult usage. It’s reasonable that all the information and choices offered might be bewildering to a beginner or inexperienced cannabis user. A marijuana vaporizer is something you’ve undoubtedly seen or heard about (often referred to as a vape or vape pen). So how can you know whether a product is good for you or not? We got you.
Marijuana vaporizer
But, before we begin, bear in mind a few points. The fact that we can even have this discussion shows how far cannabis legalization and normalcy has come in recent years.
Also, keep in mind that restrictive laws have disproportionately harmed some populations, particularly those of color. In addition to these differences, the culture of prohibition makes it difficult to research cannabis, especially the effects of smoking and vaping.
With that stated, here’s what we know and don’t know about vaping’s potential advantages, plus how to select the appropriate one for you.
First, how dangerous is cannabis smoke exposure?
It’s more complex than you think. We can assess the relative dangers of smoking cannabis compared to smoking cigarettes, but not the absolute risks. Mallory Loflin, Ph.D., a researcher at UC San Diego, tells SELF. (We are just discussing health hazards.)
But we do know: Combustion produces substances that might cause lung irritation, leading in coughing or wheezing, Dr. Loflin notes. Some of the chemicals produced in that process have been linked to increased risk of lung cancer. It’s unclear if frequent cannabis users’ exposure to pyrolytic chemicals (produced when plant material is burnt) would generate long-term issues.
According to Jordan Tishler, M.D., medicinal cannabis specialist at InhaleMD in Boston, one credible long-term research evaluated long-term cannabis usage.
The researchers studied 1,210 Los Angeles residents with a history of lung or upper aerodigestive malignancies (such as oral or laryngeal tumors) and 1,040 healthy controls matched by age, gender, and area.
The researchers then interviewed all subjects about their cannabis usage, including frequency, kind, and duration. Tobacco, alcohol, demographics, and family history of cancer were all questioned about.
Cannabis users were not substantially more or less likely to be in the cancer or control groups after controlling for cigarette use. The study’s authors admit that selection bias and the difficulty of asking respondents to recollect their own drug usage may have influenced their findings.
In addition, Dr. Loflin points out that utilizing volunteers who have just long-term experience with cannabis smoking isn’t exactly the same thing (which are, understandably, difficult to find).
They conclude that “the link of these malignancies with marijuana, even chronic or severe use, is weak and may be below practically detectable limits.”
While many topics remain unsolved, it seems that any difficulties with cannabis tend to be limited to the time spent smoking. “My takeaway is: Let’s avoid smoking if we can.” “Says Dr.” We don’t get exposed to things we’re frightened of, even if they don’t seem to be an issue.
To avoid such substances and prevent acute difficulties (e.g. lung inflammation), Dr. Loflin, who recently coauthored a review of past research looking at the impacts of smoking vs vaping, thinks vaporization may be advantageous in certain situations.
What additional health dangers should you consider while removing the actual smoke from cannabis use? We do know that cannabis may momentarily raise your heart rate, make you tired or drowsy, impair your short-term memory, and produce some transitory anxiety. Using a vaporizer doesn’t avoid such hazards.
Vaporizers are omnipresent, but are they healthier than cigarettes?
Low-temperature cannabis releases cannabinoids (the molecules that cause a high and some possible benefits). Dr. Tishler explains the purpose of a vaporizer is to heat the herb to the point where it releases the desired compounds without combusting.
Although no direct comparison of the effects of smoking vs. vaping cannabis has been done, research shows that using a vaporizer minimizes your exposure to the harmful substances linked with smoking. “We know that smoked cannabis has less pyrolytic chemicals than smoked tobacco,” Dr. Loflin explains. “Several studies have demonstrated that vaporizing cannabis (using a certain kind of vaporizer) significantly reduces the quantity of pyrolytic carcinogenic chemicals.”
For example, a 2004 Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics research compared chemicals detected in cannabis smoke to those generated through vaporization. It discovered that most cannabis vapor contains cannabinoids, which is what you want to see. While vapor included some of the same pyrolytic chemicals as smoke, they were far less abundant in vapor.
So far, research on how it transfers to people is encouraging. A month of using a vaporizer improved lung function and reduced symptoms of bronchitis, according to Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University at Albany (SUNY).
In fact, for one month, Dr. Earleywine’s study participants who used cannabis often and had symptoms of lung irritation all utilized a vaporizer. After that month, eight of the participants were sick. But the 12 who didn’t said their problems had improved. Although this is a tiny research, it implies that vaping is less harmful to the lungs than smoking.
The vaporizer you use, and what you put in it, may greatly affect your experience.
In fact, Dr. Tishler notes that not all vaporizers are created equal. “The vape pens and flower vaporizers appear to be the primary divide.”
Dr. Loflin claims that almost all vaping research have used flower vapes like the Volcano or other tabletop vaporizers. The Volcano is a classic (and expensive) vaporizer that creates vapor from plant material gathered in a bag that inflates like a balloon. These devices are effective yet cumbersome and difficult to dose.
We don’t know whether the findings apply to all cannabis vaporizers, including “the popular vape pens that heat oil,” Dr. Earleywine said.
Vape pens act like e-cigarettes, with a battery and a heating coil that contains a cartridge. An e-cigarette cartridge includes cannabis extracts suspended in a liquid filler like propylene or polyethylene glycol, MCT oil, or more recently, liquid terpenes. These components may cause lung irritation even when vaped, but we don’t know much about the consequences of breathing them when heated to high temperatures. The greatest pot vaporizers function with plant material rather than oil cartridges, according to Dr. Tishler.
Dr. Loflin thinks the quality of the material you use in the vaporizer is just as important as the device itself. Herbs, for example, contain pesticide residue and mold. And vape pens (particularly CBD) may not always contain what they claim. So, as usual, buy from a reliable supplier.
If you’re using herb (the actual plant material), select whether you want a conductive, convective, or hybrid vaporizer. A conductive heating technique puts the plant material in direct touch with the heating source, increasing the risk of burning unless the temperature is carefully managed. Convective heating, on the other hand, warms the air surrounding the plant rather than directly touching it. Notably, vape pens function by heating oil, not plant material.
Dr. Tishler favours vapes that incorporate both conductive and convective heating since they are cheaper and have more constant temperatures because the air cools as you take in.
Most importantly, you must be able to check the vape’s temperature. This may be done directly on the device with a digital thermometer or color-changing LEDs, or through a Bluetooth-connected app.
Because there are so many unknowns, you should consult your doctor or a competent “budtender” before investing your money.
Aside from your vaporizer and the cannabis you use, your own physiology, including any problems you may have, may impact your experience. And if, after all, you decide vaping isn’t for you, that’s OK too.
As we’ve seen, questions surrounding cannabis are seldom simple. “It would seem logical that vaporizing would be healthier than smoking, particularly for those with asthma,” Dr. Earleywine explains. Strangely, there is some evidence that cannabis may help some people with asthma.
If you have a chronic illness that may interfere with your cannabis usage, you may consult with a medical practitioner to find out what is best for you.
If you want to try vaping cannabis, here are a few alternatives to consider. In addition, we searched for machines that operate with plant material (some will also accept concentrates), are small and portable, and have high ratings. And every gadget on this list meets at least some of them.
