Author: John Carter

Dabs or flower: Which is healthier?

The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC legal at the federal level. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level.

While all the terpenes they discovered were safe in food products, most were considered toxic when heated and/or vaporized. All marijuana concentrates are far more potent than marijuana in leaf or flower form. Data shows that while the average THC content in leaf marijuana is around 14 percent, the average THC content in concentrates is anywhere from percent. The CDC recommends people avoid using e-cigarettes and vaping products, particularly those containing THC oil, because they’re likely to contain vitamin E acetate. Compared to the hot, harsh smoke of burning leaves, the aerosol made by vaporizers can feel much smoother on the lungs.

Cardiovascular effects

  1. These can be very addictive, leading to long-term use, and can even trigger mood disorders like anxiety or depression.
  2. In the years since, the process has likely become refined enough that there are higher levels of THC present, which can cause severe side effects.
  3. The same study from the University of Portland showed freakishly high levels of terpenes in several cannabis concentrates on the market, indicating terpenes had been added through artificial means.
  4. Unfortunately, people who struggle with addiction are likely to escalate their use of substances like cannabis, which may lead them to misuse concentrated forms, such as marijuana wax.

In the years since, the process has likely become refined enough that there are higher levels of THC present, which can cause severe side effects. The DEA has reported that some wax samples contain 99 percent THC, which is a dangerous level for most people. As marijuana use gains popularity across the country, with more states legalizing not just medical but also recreational ingestion of the substance, concentrated forms of cannabis are also gaining popularity. Despite its popularity, marijuana wax and other THC concentrates can be dangerous. Other results showed that blood levels of THC were at their highest immediately after smoking or vaping cannabis. At 10 milligrams of THC, blood levels of THC reached an average of 7.5 nanograms per milliliter in vapers, compared with 3.8 nanograms per milliliter in smokers 10 minutes after they inhaled the drug.

EVALI Symptoms? Call 911

With what’s known about it right now, though, experts say it isn’t safe—or even safer— to vape marijuana. 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. While there are no reports of the standard version of cannabis leading to overdose or death, marijuana wax has been known to put people in the hospital. The higher concentrate of THC in waxes and edibles may lead to unintentional overconsumption, which can result in a range of symptoms from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome to psychosis symptoms.

Who should not use cannabis?

Two participants vomited after vaping 25 milligrams of THC, and another experienced hallucinations. Researchers say the participants also completed three computerized tasks designed to measure attention span, memory, physical reaction time and motor movement. One task required the participant to replicate the shape of patterns, another required them to add up strings of single-digit numbers and the third required them to follow a dot across the screen with the cursor while also tracking a dot that pops up in the periphery. Note, however, that CBD products aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. If you do buy them, it’s important to do so from a reputable distributor.

Vaping Cannabis Produces Stronger Effects Than Smoking Cannabis For Infrequent Users

But, the researchers say, their study suggests that at least for first-timers or others who don’t use cannabis regularly, vaping delivers greater amounts of THC, the primary intoxicant in cannabis, which increases the likelihood of adverse reactions. If you want to get the health benefits of marijuana with the least amount of risks, it seems CBD products might be the way to go — though you won’t get high from using them. While more research on the effects of consuming marijuana is needed, it appears we can conclude that smoking any substance — including marijuana — is generally not good for you. Some states with legal marijuana are proactively warning marijuana users that vaping liquids has been known to cause severe lung injuries and death. Vaping marijuana involves inhaling heated oil through a vaporizing device, often referred to as an e-cigarette. Vaping marijuana can also refer to using a vaporizer, such as a Volcano, to produce vapor from dried plant material.

As with all things in medicine (including medical cannabis), there are exceptions to all rules, but generally:

Tinctures should come with a dropper that makes it easier to keep doses consistent. Tinctures are alcohol-based cannabis extracts that are often cut with hemp oil or CBD (cannabidiol) oil. Medical cannabis is used to treat multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and many other conditions. With marijuana products, though, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

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Safety/Injuries

For a while, I tried to be vigilant about finding pesticide-free cannabis oil. Since I personally know a lot of farmers and vape pen manufacturers, this didn’t feel like it was going to be hard. All I had to do was find people that I trusted, who assured me there were no harmful chemicals in their products, and I would be set. When I started talking to scientists about what was actually in the concentrated marijuana that I was vaping, I quickly became alarmed. So many of the sick people and stoners I knew who used vape pens were convinced that vaping was safer than smoking. It felt easier on the lungs, at least, and seemed somehow less dangerous.