E-Cigarettes: A Review of New Trends in Cannabis Use

Christian Giroud, Mariangela De Cesare, Aurélie Berthet, Vincent Varlet, Nicolas Concha-Lozano and Bernard Favrat
Additional contact information
Christian Giroud: Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine (CURML), CH-1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland
Mariangela De Cesare: Unità di Medicina e Psicologia del Traffico, via Trevano 4, Casella postale 4044, CH-6904 Lugano, Switzerland
Aurélie Berthet: Department of Community Medicine and Health (DUMSC), Rue du Bugnon 44, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Vincent Varlet: Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine (CURML), CH-1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland
Nicolas Concha-Lozano: Department of Community Medicine and Health (DUMSC), Rue du Bugnon 44, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Bernard Favrat: Department of Community Medicine and Health (DUMSC), Rue du Bugnon 44, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: The emergence of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) has given cannabis smokers a new method of inhaling cannabinoids. E-cigs differ from traditional marijuana cigarettes in several respects. First, it is assumed that vaporizing cannabinoids at lower temperatures is safer because it produces smaller amounts of toxic substances than the hot combustion of a marijuana cigarette. Recreational cannabis users can discretely “vape” deodorized cannabis extracts with minimal annoyance to the people around them and less chance of detection. There are nevertheless several drawbacks worth mentioning: although manufacturing commercial (or homemade) cannabinoid-enriched electronic liquids (e-liquids) requires lengthy, complex processing, some are readily on the Internet despite their lack of quality control, expiry date, and conditions of preservation and, above all, any toxicological and clinical assessment. Besides these safety problems, the regulatory situation surrounding e-liquids is often unclear. More simply ground cannabis flowering heads or concentrated, oily THC extracts (such as butane honey oil or BHO) can be vaped in specially designed, pen-sized marijuana vaporizers. Analysis of a commercial e-liquid rich in cannabidiol showed that it contained a smaller dose of active ingredient than advertised; testing our laboratory-made, purified BHO, however, confirmed that it could be vaped in an e-cig to deliver a psychoactive dose of THC. The health consequences specific to vaping these cannabis preparations remain largely unknown and speculative due to the absence of comprehensive, robust scientific studies. The most significant health concerns involve the vaping of cannabinoids by children and teenagers. E-cigs could provide an alternative gateway to cannabis use for young people. Furthermore, vaping cannabinoids could lead to environmental and passive contamination.

Keywords: cannabis; vaping; electronic cigarette; adolescence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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