Cannabis vapes are sleek devices that let users inhale marijuana by heating a THC-infused oil or extract. They can be reusable or disposable. They are growing in popularity, especially among young people who want to hide their use from parents or other adults. They produce no ash, have a faint scent and are easy to carry or conceal. People in the legalized marijuana industry say vapes account for 30 percent or more of their business.
But a new study raises questions about the health effects of vaping cannabis. It found that among infrequent users, vaporization increased the rate of short-term anxiety, paranoia and memory loss over smoking. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. The research was small and involved just a few dozen participants, but it’s the first to compare the effects of vaping and smoking in this population. The researchers also didn’t look at long-term exposure, and more work is needed on that front.
A Comprehensive Guide to Cannabis Vapes: Types, Benefits, and How to Use Them
In the study, subjects took a test designed to measure cognitive function and their responses to THC. They were asked to track a square on a computer screen and monitor numbers in each corner of the screen, called a Divided Attention Task. The results showed that those who vaped 25 milligrams of THC had a harder time tracking the square, and their scores dropped 170 percent more than those who smoked the same dose. They also reported feeling more dry mouth than those who smoked.