Vaping Cannabis: Side Effects? Is It Better than Smoking?

When it comes to consuming marijuana, there are two primary methods: vaping and smoking.

Smoking is the oldest form of cannabis consumption for thousands of years and continues to be widely popular now.

On the other hand, vaping has become a very popular alternative to smoking cannabis, especially among youth.

Considering making the switch from smoking to vaping weed? You may be wondering What is Vaping? Is It Better or safer than Smoking? Are there still any dangerous side effects when vaping?

In this guide, we will answer all your questions! we will compare the differences between vaping vs. smoking weed and which way is right for you.

What is Vaping Cannabis?

Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol or vapor made from a liquid or dry material that is heated in an electronic powered device, called a vape, vape pen, or vaporizer.

The liquid can contain marijuana oil or concentrates. Dry herb vape devices can heat dry marijuana flower without combusting it.

Vaporizers heat cannabis plant matter (or its oil) to a temperature that forces trichomes away from the plant into the vapors

Within seconds of inhalation, Effects will generally peak before thirty minutes and diminish in a couple of hours.

Generally, the vaping device consists of a battery, a cartridge for containing the e-liquid or dry marijuana, a heating element - atomizer, and a mouthpiece for inhaling vapor.

Vaping devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some resembling USB flash drives, pens, or other everyday objects.

Is Vaping Marijuana Better or Safer than Smoking Method?

Evidence shows that vaping weed is substantially safer or healthier than smoking. plus, it offer many other benefits compared to smoking.

1. Safer or Healthier

Smoking entails the direct burning of marijuana, with the smoke inhaled into the lungs. The combustion process generates carcinogens, oxidizing agents, and other toxins that are harmful to human body.

Vaping involves the use of a device, such as a vaporizer or vape pen, to heat cannabis extracts or flower at a lower temperature, producing a vapor that is then inhaled. This method avoids the combustion process, which occurs when marijuana is smoked.

So it is clear that vaporization is a healthier or safer way to inhale cannabis than combustion because it doesn’t produce many of the harmful components of burning material such as toxins and other cancer-causing agents.

To many, smoking is considered the most harmful method of consumption. If you are health-conscious and love cannabis, making the switch to vaping is a no-brainer.

2. Better Taste

Vaping typically produces more pronounced flavor than smoking.

Terpenes are one of the main constituents of weed and are responsible for the aroma characteristics of cannabis.

When smoking cannabis via combustion, the temperature can get so high that it destroys the terpenes.

Since vapor is produced at a lower heat level than smoke, the terpenes can stay intact, adding a burst of flavor to your inhale.

3. More effective

Vaping could convert 46% of THC in cannabis to vapor, while a typical cannabis joint could only convert about 25% of THC. This could make your high better and stronger.

Between lighting a joint and smoking, a large percentage of active cannabis compounds vanish with the smoke. You’re losing precious THC and terpenes every time you set your bud on fire.

Vaping, on the other hand, uses much lower temperatures which preserves more THC for you to enjoy.

4. More Convenient

Vape pens are usually compact and small, making them super convenient to travel with. You can throw your vape in your purse or in your back pocket before heading out.

Since the oil fits right into the vape cartridge, you won’t have to worry about a bunch of moving parts in order to medicate.

You’ll no longer have to carry around a bong, pipe, weed grinder, rolling tray, lighter, or stash jar for smoking.

5. Discreet

One of the most appealing aspects of vaping marijuana is that it doesn’t produce as much of an odor, especially at lower temps.

In addition, vaping smells a lot less than smoke, so it’s a smart option if you’re trying to fly high under the radar.

6. Dose Control

It can be difficult for a new user to gauge how big of an inhale you take from a joint, bong, or pipe. And sometimes, that inhale is just too much, too soon for those new to smoking.

Vaporizing weed allows you to extract the cannabinoids from your dry herb or concentrates slowly and effectively.

A modern vape pen will typically offer different airflow settings so you can control how much you get with each inhale.

7. Temperature Control

Most weed vaporizers have adjustable heat settings that give you control over the temperature throughout your session.

It takes a bit of trial and error to find the best temperature for vaping weed, but it can produce a range of effects, from mellow and uplifting to a more intense euphoric experience.

8. Save Money

Buying a vape pen can be a large initial investment, but it’s seriously worth it.

Smoking cannabis can be extremely wasteful as you’re often burning off more than you realize.

Vaping can actually save you money because the vapor is only produced when you draw on your pen.

The 8 dangerous side effects of vaping Weed

Vaping is less harmful than smoking weed, but it’s still not safe because there are other risks.

There are many potential dangers, particularly concerning acute adverse effects, lung injuries, and its impact on the respiratory system associated with vaping Cannabis.

1. Cannabis Addiction

THC is the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana and the substance that produces intoxication effects.

However, it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a vape and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving.

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms may include: Anger/hostility, Irritability, Depressed mood, Anxiety, Sleep disturbances, Restlessness, iminished appetite, and Weight loss.

About 30% of users are estimated to have cannabis use disorder. They are not engaging in important work, social, hobbies, or recreational activities because of marijuana use.

2. Lung Irritation and Damage

Although cannabis vapor isn’t as harmful as smoke, this doesn’t absolve it from all potential harm to respiratory tract—including the throat and lungs.

Breathing in heated vapor can cause lung irritation, leading to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Prolonged exposure to these irritants can potentially increases the risk of problems such as cough, chronic bronchitis, increased risk and frequency of pneumonia, and other lung illnesses.

3. Mental health

In addition to its psychoactive effects, THC is also believed to impact pain, mood, and other feelings.

Frequent, high-dose use may cause depression, anxiety, paranoia, temporary psychosis (disconnection from reality), schizophrenia, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Marijuana's impact on mental health can differ depending on individual factors, including genetics, dosage, and frequency of use.

While some individuals may experience negative mental health effects, others may not be affected in the same way.

It is crucial to be aware of the potential risks and monitor one's mental health when using marijuana.

4. Acute Adverse Effects

What’s become popular is smoking or vaping marijuana concentrates, and the effects may be more physically or psychologically intense than using the plant material since the concentrate is highly potent.

In fact, Concentrates are much more potent than flower in terms of THC percentage. Flower contains between 10-25 percent THC but concentrates typically fall around the 50-90 percent mark.

They can be easy to over-consume if you’re a first-time user with lower tolerance, resulting in an unenjoyable Acute Adverse Effect.

Symptoms of a marijuana overdose may include: Psychotic reactions; A fast heart rate, chest pain, or heart attack; Uncontrollable shaking or seizures; Respiratory depression; Pale skin color; Unresponsiveness; Sudden high blood pressure with headache, etc.

It’s important to start slow and gradually identify your limits and how your body reacts to vaporized cannabis.

5. Harmful Ingredients and Bad Products

There are plenty of poor-quality vaporizers on the market, made with fragile plastic parts that you don’t want to inhale.

Some weed vape juices contain thinning agents, flavoring agents, and other additives, which, when broken down, can become carcinogenic. They can also expose consumers to toxic metals and ultrafine particles that can irritate the lungs.

For example, Vitamin E acetate, a cutting agent in some THC-containing vapes, has been strongly linked to vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreaks in 2019, according to the CDC. All injured lung fluid samples appear to harbor this agent.

To decrease the risk of vaping harmful additives, it's imperative to avoid purchasing illicit vape products and purchase products from reputable brands or a licensed dispensary that provide product testing data.

6. Cognitive and Driving Impairment

Marijuana use impairs many aspects of cognitive and physical function that are necessary for safe driving.

Marijuana can decrease car handling, can impair performance and attention while increasing reaction times, following distance and lane deviation.

So don’t drive if you’re feeling any effects of cannabis. Rest for a period of several hours after vaping to reduce this risk.

7. Adolescent brain development issues

Teens and young adults that before age 18 are particularly vulnerable to the effects of vaping THC, as their brains are continuing to develop and mature.

This can lead to impaired learning, memory, and impulse control that can impact an individual's life.

8. Heart health risks

THC is the psychoactive compound that gets you high, but it can also temporarily raise your heart rate and blood pressure, putting extra stress on your heart.

Smoking, vaping or eating marijuana is linked to a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even if a person had no existing heart conditions and did not smoke or vape tobacco, a study found.

Conclusion

Vaping has become extremely popular, as the process itself produces fewer toxins compared to traditional smoking methods.

Also, Vaping marijuana allows you to taste more distinction between strains, gives you control over temperature, and is generally more convenient and discreet.

If you’re armed with a quality vape pen and safe oil from a licensed dispensary, vaping can be much more enjoyable than smoking cannabis the old-school way.

Lastly, Though vaping cannabis is considered a relatively low-risk behavior, there are still negative health effects associated with it. Children, teens and people who have never smoked shouldn’t vape. 

Vape pens haven’t been around for long enough for us to know what their longer-term health effects could be. Always use them responsibly！