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Vaping marijuana?
 

Cannavaping—the inhalation of a cannabis-containing aerosol, created by a battery-driven, heated atomizer in e-cigarettes or similar devices1—is touted as a less expensive and safer alternative to smoking marijuana. It’s also gaining in popularity.2 One study of Connecticut high school students found that 5.4% had used e-cigarettes to vaporize cannabis.3 But what do we know about this new way to get high?

We know that those who wish to cannavape can easily obtain e-cigarettes from gas stations and tobacco shops. They then have to obtain a cartridge, filled with either hash oil or tetrahydrocannabinol-infused wax, to attach to the e-cigarette. These cartridges are available for purchase in states that have legalized the sale of marijuana. They also find their way into states where the sale of marijuana is not legal, and are purchased illegally for the purpose of cannavaping.

And while cannavaping does appear to reduce the cost of smoking marijuana,4 it has not been widely researched, nor determined to be safe.5

 

 

 

In fact, although marijuana has several important therapeutic and medicinal purposes, cannavaping the substance can result in medical concerns.6 The vaping aerosols of some compounds can induce lung pathology and may be carcinogenic, since they often contain a number of dangerous toxins.4

Chronic marijuana use can increase the likelihood of motor vehicles accidents, cognitive impairment, psychoses, and demotivation.4 It may predispose certain individuals to use other drugs and tobacco products and could increase the consumption of marijuana.4,5 Increased consumption could have a detrimental effect on intellect and behavior when used chronically—especially in youngsters, whose nervous systems are not yet fully matured.7-9

Because cannavaping has potentially deleterious effects, more regulations on the manufacture, distribution, access, and use are indicated—at least until research sheds more light on issues surrounding this practice.

Steven Lippman, MD; Devina Singh, MD
Louisville, KY

References

1. Varlet V, Concha-Lozano N, Berthlet A, et al. Drug vaping applied to cannabis: is “cannavaping” a therapeutic alternative to marijuana? Sci Rep. 2016;6:25599.

2. Giroud C, de Cesare M, Berthet A, et al. E-cigarettes: a review of new trends in cannabis use. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12:9988-10008.

3. Morean ME, Kong G, Camenga DR, et al. High school students’ use of electronic cigarettes to vaporize cannabis. Pediatrics. 2015;136:611-616.

4. Budney AJ, Sargent JD, Lee DC. Vaping cannabis (marijuana): parallel concerns to e-cigs? Addiction. 2015;110:1699-1704.

5. Cox B. Can the research community respond adequately to the health risks of vaping? Addiction. 2015;110:1709-1709.

6. Rong C, Lee Y, Carmona NE, et al. Cannabidiol in medical marijuana: research vistas and potential opportunities. Pharmacol Res. 2017;121:213-218.

7. Schweinsburg AD, Brown SA, Tapert SF. The influence of marijuana use on neurocognitive functioning in adolescents. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2008;1:99-111.

8. Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109:E2657-2664.

9. Castellanos-Ryan N, Pingault J, Parent S, et al. Adolescent cannabis use, change in neurocognitive function, and high-school graduation: a longitudinal study from early adolescence to young adulthood. Dev Psychopathol . 2017;29:1253-1266.

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The Journal of Family Practice - 66(11)
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Cannavaping—the inhalation of a cannabis-containing aerosol, created by a battery-driven, heated atomizer in e-cigarettes or similar devices1—is touted as a less expensive and safer alternative to smoking marijuana. It’s also gaining in popularity.2 One study of Connecticut high school students found that 5.4% had used e-cigarettes to vaporize cannabis.3 But what do we know about this new way to get high?

We know that those who wish to cannavape can easily obtain e-cigarettes from gas stations and tobacco shops. They then have to obtain a cartridge, filled with either hash oil or tetrahydrocannabinol-infused wax, to attach to the e-cigarette. These cartridges are available for purchase in states that have legalized the sale of marijuana. They also find their way into states where the sale of marijuana is not legal, and are purchased illegally for the purpose of cannavaping.

And while cannavaping does appear to reduce the cost of smoking marijuana,4 it has not been widely researched, nor determined to be safe.5

 

 

 

In fact, although marijuana has several important therapeutic and medicinal purposes, cannavaping the substance can result in medical concerns.6 The vaping aerosols of some compounds can induce lung pathology and may be carcinogenic, since they often contain a number of dangerous toxins.4

Chronic marijuana use can increase the likelihood of motor vehicles accidents, cognitive impairment, psychoses, and demotivation.4 It may predispose certain individuals to use other drugs and tobacco products and could increase the consumption of marijuana.4,5 Increased consumption could have a detrimental effect on intellect and behavior when used chronically—especially in youngsters, whose nervous systems are not yet fully matured.7-9

Because cannavaping has potentially deleterious effects, more regulations on the manufacture, distribution, access, and use are indicated—at least until research sheds more light on issues surrounding this practice.

Steven Lippman, MD; Devina Singh, MD
Louisville, KY

 

Cannavaping—the inhalation of a cannabis-containing aerosol, created by a battery-driven, heated atomizer in e-cigarettes or similar devices1—is touted as a less expensive and safer alternative to smoking marijuana. It’s also gaining in popularity.2 One study of Connecticut high school students found that 5.4% had used e-cigarettes to vaporize cannabis.3 But what do we know about this new way to get high?

We know that those who wish to cannavape can easily obtain e-cigarettes from gas stations and tobacco shops. They then have to obtain a cartridge, filled with either hash oil or tetrahydrocannabinol-infused wax, to attach to the e-cigarette. These cartridges are available for purchase in states that have legalized the sale of marijuana. They also find their way into states where the sale of marijuana is not legal, and are purchased illegally for the purpose of cannavaping.

And while cannavaping does appear to reduce the cost of smoking marijuana,4 it has not been widely researched, nor determined to be safe.5

 

 

 

In fact, although marijuana has several important therapeutic and medicinal purposes, cannavaping the substance can result in medical concerns.6 The vaping aerosols of some compounds can induce lung pathology and may be carcinogenic, since they often contain a number of dangerous toxins.4

Chronic marijuana use can increase the likelihood of motor vehicles accidents, cognitive impairment, psychoses, and demotivation.4 It may predispose certain individuals to use other drugs and tobacco products and could increase the consumption of marijuana.4,5 Increased consumption could have a detrimental effect on intellect and behavior when used chronically—especially in youngsters, whose nervous systems are not yet fully matured.7-9

Because cannavaping has potentially deleterious effects, more regulations on the manufacture, distribution, access, and use are indicated—at least until research sheds more light on issues surrounding this practice.

Steven Lippman, MD; Devina Singh, MD
Louisville, KY

References

1. Varlet V, Concha-Lozano N, Berthlet A, et al. Drug vaping applied to cannabis: is “cannavaping” a therapeutic alternative to marijuana? Sci Rep. 2016;6:25599.

2. Giroud C, de Cesare M, Berthet A, et al. E-cigarettes: a review of new trends in cannabis use. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12:9988-10008.

3. Morean ME, Kong G, Camenga DR, et al. High school students’ use of electronic cigarettes to vaporize cannabis. Pediatrics. 2015;136:611-616.

4. Budney AJ, Sargent JD, Lee DC. Vaping cannabis (marijuana): parallel concerns to e-cigs? Addiction. 2015;110:1699-1704.

5. Cox B. Can the research community respond adequately to the health risks of vaping? Addiction. 2015;110:1709-1709.

6. Rong C, Lee Y, Carmona NE, et al. Cannabidiol in medical marijuana: research vistas and potential opportunities. Pharmacol Res. 2017;121:213-218.

7. Schweinsburg AD, Brown SA, Tapert SF. The influence of marijuana use on neurocognitive functioning in adolescents. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2008;1:99-111.

8. Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109:E2657-2664.

9. Castellanos-Ryan N, Pingault J, Parent S, et al. Adolescent cannabis use, change in neurocognitive function, and high-school graduation: a longitudinal study from early adolescence to young adulthood. Dev Psychopathol . 2017;29:1253-1266.

References

1. Varlet V, Concha-Lozano N, Berthlet A, et al. Drug vaping applied to cannabis: is “cannavaping” a therapeutic alternative to marijuana? Sci Rep. 2016;6:25599.

2. Giroud C, de Cesare M, Berthet A, et al. E-cigarettes: a review of new trends in cannabis use. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12:9988-10008.

3. Morean ME, Kong G, Camenga DR, et al. High school students’ use of electronic cigarettes to vaporize cannabis. Pediatrics. 2015;136:611-616.

4. Budney AJ, Sargent JD, Lee DC. Vaping cannabis (marijuana): parallel concerns to e-cigs? Addiction. 2015;110:1699-1704.

5. Cox B. Can the research community respond adequately to the health risks of vaping? Addiction. 2015;110:1709-1709.

6. Rong C, Lee Y, Carmona NE, et al. Cannabidiol in medical marijuana: research vistas and potential opportunities. Pharmacol Res. 2017;121:213-218.

7. Schweinsburg AD, Brown SA, Tapert SF. The influence of marijuana use on neurocognitive functioning in adolescents. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2008;1:99-111.

8. Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109:E2657-2664.

9. Castellanos-Ryan N, Pingault J, Parent S, et al. Adolescent cannabis use, change in neurocognitive function, and high-school graduation: a longitudinal study from early adolescence to young adulthood. Dev Psychopathol . 2017;29:1253-1266.

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The Journal of Family Practice - 66(11)
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The Journal of Family Practice - 66(11)
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655
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