Smoking v. Vaping
Have you ever wondered if switching to a vaporizer is a healthier option than smoking? Many believe vaporizing is a safer alternative to smoking, and researchers are starting to agree. The war on drugs has put up barriers to research that have set scientists back in their ability to study the effects of marijuana inhalation on the lungs, but over the past few decades the body of research has been growing. While it’s hard to come by any definitive conclusions, it seems to be generally agreed that while smoking cannabis (as with smoking anything) can be a lung irritant, long term cannabis smokers do not show higher rates of lung cancer—though smoking cannabis may be linked to chronic bronchitis and increased phlegm production.
A relatively new option is vaporizing, which allows a persons to inhale activated cannabinoids by heating flower or concentrates to a temperature that decarboxylizes (activates) THC-A and CBD-A without a combustion reaction. (Combustion is what causes the creation of noxious gasses such as carbon monoxide). Vaporizers are now available for both concentrates and flower—making it so that whatever your preference, there is an option for you. Vape pens are also very convenient and discreet, making it easier for patients to medicate without the lingering smell or extra work it takes to roll a joint or load a bowl. Because of this, the number of patients that have turned away from traditional buds in favor of more concentrated forms of medicine is growing daily.
Having said all that, there are ways to minimize lung irritation such as holding hits for less time or filtering the smoke through water—as with a bong—to cool the smoke down. Interestingly, one argument for the benefits of breeding cannabis plants for higher THC levels is that people don’t need to smoke as much of it to feel the effects, thereby reducing the amount smoked and subsequently the amount of smoke damage to the lungs. So if your preference is still smoking a blunt or hitting a bong, you can take some comfort in the fact that serious damage to the lungs has not been found in long-term smokers—though, as stated above, no serious damage is not the same as no damage. And maybe also keep in mind the methods that can reduce lung irritation.
To learn more about the side effects of vaping vs. smoking check out Learn About Marijuana’s factsheet.