The research on vaping vs smoking cannabis
The legalization of marijuana is spreading across the world. As marijuana use increases, people are finding new ways to use marijuana. There are different methods of consumption of marijuana other than smoking, such as vaping marijuana, eating edibles, and using topicals. Smoking weed is a traditional way to use marijuana.
Effects of Vaping vs Smoking
There is not much cannabis research on the effects of vaping or smoking weed. Although there is some information and anecdotal evidence about the risks of vaping and smoking.
Smoking weed
Smoking weed can cause a level of toxicity. This is because the smoking of marijuana causes carcinogens to be released. This may further lead to the development of cancer. Dr. Jeffrey Chen, the director of the UCLA, stated that the combustion of plants allows for the release of many carcinogens into the atmosphere. Tar is also released into the body when we smoke weed.
Chen further stated that some people had experienced improvement in the health of their lungs when they changed from smoking marijuana to vaping marijuana. A study conducted in 2007 findings showed that vaping marijuana could decrease some respiratory issues that may be caused by smoking marijuana.
Vaping method
When you smoke marijuana using a pipe, more toxins are released than when you vape marijuana. However, the safety of vaping depends on the method and instrument utilized. Chen stated that vaping pens might also release harmful carcinogens into a person’s body. Traditional vaporizers are different from vape pens. The new vape pens are sold in dispensaries and other places, and so they may be contaminated easily where they are made and kept.
Contaminants in vaping pens
These vape pens use cartridges that are filled with liquid (marijuana extracts). This cartridge is connected to the pen and inhalation takes place. However, this may lead users to inhale carcinogens and contaminants. These harmful chemicals usually pass directly into the blood. Also, some contaminants enter the vape pen when the weed is produced, and extract packaged.
According to Chen, pesticides and metals may have encountered the marijuana plant during production. Similar contaminants can affect someone who smokes marijuana through a pipe but vape may contain contaminants in a concentrated form.
Additionally, the process of turning marijuana into an extract uses solvent such as butane that is harmful to the body. Marijuana extracts may contain additives such as a carrier agent which allows the extract to burn easily in the vape pen. These carrier agents can be very harmful to the body.
Getting high
Vaping can cause a person to have short term effects such as getting ‘higher.’ A study conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that when irregular users of cannabis vape marijuana, they may get higher than if they smoke marijuana. New users of cannabis should be careful the amount of cannabis they vape at once because of the high concentration of weed cause a greater ‘high.’
Smoking marijuana allows the user to know how much marijuana they are consuming. Users of vape pens may not be aware of the amount of weed they are using and so get ‘higher.’ A study conducted in JAMA confirms this. The researchers noticed that vape users got higher and had side effects such as vomiting than those who smoked marijuana.
Should you vape or smoke? Both vaping and smoking marijuana has harmful effects. To determine which is better, will depend on the type of vaporizer used, the amount of extract you vape, among other variables.
There should be more research on the effects of vaporizing marijuana to validate the claims. Prospective smokers and vapers should consult their doctor before using marijuana through these methods.
