ABSTRACT
SUMMARY. The primary health hazard of medical cannabis is respiratory damage from marijuana smoke. Aside from oral ingestion and other non-smoked delivery systems not yet commercially available, strategies for reducing the harm of smoking include: (1) use of higher potency cannabis and (2) smoking devices aimed at eliminating toxins from the smoke. Studies have found that waterpipes and solid filters are ineffectual at improving the THC/tar ratio in cannabis smoke. The most promising alternative appears to be “vaporization,” in which cannabis is heated to a point where cannabinoids are emitted without combustion. A feasibility study by NORML and MAPS has demonstrated that an electric vaporizer can successfully generate THC at 185°C while completely suppressing benzene, toluene, and naphthalene formation. Further studies are needed to evaluate how effectively vaporizers suppress other toxins, and how their performance varies using different samples, temperatures, and device designs. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressinc.com> Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com>; © 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
KEYWORDS. Marijuana, cannabis, smoke harm reduction, vaporizers, vaporization
INTRODUCTION
A leading health concern about the medical use of cannabis is respiratory sequelae due to smoking. Aside from its active cannabinoids, marijuana smoke greatly resembles tobacco smoke, containing noxious tars and gases that are a byproduct of leaf combustion. These include highly carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other known carcinogens, such as benzene, at levels comparable to those in tobacco smoke. Also included are numerous other toxic inhalants, among them carbon monoxide, toluene, naphthalene, acetaldehyde, phenol, and hydrogen cyanide, again at levels comparable to tobacco (Huber 1991; Institute of Medicine 1982).
