Is Vaping Cannabis Bad?

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace expert medical or mental health advice. Vaping cannabis or cannabis dependence requires a comprehensive psychiatric and physical evaluation by a qualified clinician. So, always refer to a licensed mental health specialist for specialized medical advice.

Is vaping cannabis bad, or is it better than smoking cannabis? Some think so, but recent studies have mentioned that vaping cannabis can adversely impact your lungs, as it contains toxic substances and is not risk-free for regular users.

Vaping cannabis is when you use hand-held devices like e-cigarettes or vape pens to inhale a mist of cannabis. It can also be used to inhale mists of other substances, like tobacco.

Vaping cannabis has become a popular trend among millennials and Gen-Z. It is affordable and delivers the right quantity of product. Some even tend to think it is less harmful than smoking. But is vaping cannabis just as bad? Peer-reviewed studies published in the National Library of Medicine say that it can lead to dependence, cognitive impairments, and even vaping-associated lung injury.

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, refers to a genus of plants like C. sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis, which contain psychoactive compounds like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These bind to the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) to produce pleasant feelings.

THC increases dopamine and produces a high, whereas CBD impacts GABA and serotonin and reduces anxiety and depressive feelings.

Cannabis is smoked, used as a food, or even as an extract. Some choose to vape cannabis to create a vapor and inhale the mist.

Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines tend to suggest vaping as a safer method of use than smoking, as it reduces the toxic levels. But neither smoking nor vaping is without health risks.

The dangers of vaping cannabis are:

• It is addictive - in that it leads to dependence as well as other physical and mental health complications. It can lead to cognitive impairments, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and even heart conditions.
• While vaping is considered safer than smoking, a study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology surmised that vaping leads to similar effects as smoking. Cannabis vapor contains carcinogens and other toxins that can increase the risk of respiratory conditions and even cancer.
• The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have warned against vaping cannabis. It increases the risk of EVALI - a potentially fatal lung injury - which impacted an estimated 2,500 in 2019. More than 1,000 who vaped products containing THC reported lung injuries.

If you smoke, vape, eat, or use cannabis in other ways - it can lead to misuse and dependence. This is known as cannabis use disorder, which can be treated with medically supervised detoxification (detox) and psychotherapy. Presently, there are no FDA-approved medications for treating cannabis misuse or dependence.

• Detox: In detox, you stop using cannabis so that it leaves your body. In some cases, cannabis levels are slowly tapered off from your body to reduce and manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is safer when done in a medically supervised setting. Typically, a board-certified physician and psychiatric practitioner will be there with you to oversee your detoxification.
• Psychotherapy: Therapeutic modalities like motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and 12-Step facilitation therapies are used to treat cannabis use disorder. These get to the bottom of underlying patterns leading to cannabis use and teach you healthier coping skills to deal with life’s stressors and challenges.

Cannabis use disorder is a chronic condition, which means that it needs to be controlled like any other chronic condition. However, some clinical reviews and insights have shown that up to 72% achieve remission from cannabis dependence. Early diagnosis and intervention, and family/social support, lead to the best, sustained outcomes.

If you are struggling with cannabis use, we understand how challenging it can be. Please reach out to the NuView Treatment Center today - we offer a full continuum of personalized outpatient care that is built around your life so that you can navigate your daily responsibilities and recovery at your own pace.

Please call us at (323) 307-7997 to connect with our licensed and experienced experts today!

What are the different types of cannabis vapes?

Cannabis vapes come in different types - such as disposable vape pens, refillable vape pens, dual-use vape pens, and so on.

Is vaping cannabis safe?

Vaping cannabis is considered to be safer than smoking cannabis; however, clinical reviews and insight have shown that it can lead to similar health effects, like dependence, cognitive impairments, lung injury, and an increased risk of cancer.

Does vaping cannabis lead to cancer?

Cannabis vapor contains toxins like carcinogens and heavy metals, among others, which can increase the risk of cancer.

What are the safer ways of consuming cannabis?

Consuming cannabis in any way is not without its health risks. It is a psychoactive substance that can alter the mind and lead to other health complications.

How is cannabis use disorder treated?

Cannabis use disorder is effectively treated with medical detox and behavioral therapies.