Dangers of THC Vaping
Many people think of THC vaping as a convenient, safer alternative to smoking cannabis flowers. Since smoke contains carcinogens, it makes sense for cannabis users to assume that vaping gives them a healthier option.
Unfortunately, thousands of people vaping THC could put their health in danger. As doctors and researchers continue learning more about vaping, they discover more concerns that question the healthfulness of THC vaping.
THC Vaping May Expose Your Lungs to Dangerous Chemicals
In October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that about 1,300 people had developed lung injuries after vaping. More than 25 e-cigarette users had died from their injuries.
It didn’t take long for other organizations to support the CDC’s findings. Several prominent doctors published a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine warning about the dangers of vaping-related lung injuries.
The Mayo Clinic released a study linking vaping-related injuries to “toxic chemical fumes.”
The vast majority of people (76%) affected by the fumes used THC vaping devices. Others claim that they got sick after vaping nicotine products.
When NBC recruited CannaSafe, a cannabis testing facility, to help them learn more about vaping illnesses, they discovered dangerous chemicals in black market vaping cartridges. The samples purchased from legal dispensaries did not contain any alarming chemicals. The black market samples, however, had traces of pesticides and a fungus that can turn into hydrogen cyanide when burned.
The lesson has become clear. Even though some people believe that THC vaping gives them a healthier alternative to smoking cannabis, some cartridges contain dangerous chemicals that can damage lungs.
When you vape THC, you never know what other chemicals you put into your body.
Vape Pens Can Give Users Unpredictable Results
Cannabis has undergone a radical change over the last couple of decades. According to one study, marijuana purchased in the 1980s had a THC content under 2%. During the 1990s, the THC content reached about 4%. Between 1995 and 2015, the level of THC content increased by 212%.
Today, cannabis users can purchase smokable flowers with 17-28% THC content.
The problem of high THC concentrate becomes even more worrisome with vape pens and concentrates. The concentrates used in vape pens often have THC levels between 40% and 80%.
When cannabis users pick up vape pens, many of them have no idea how much THC they will ingest. The wide range of THC levels makes the results of vape pens unpredictable. While one product may leave the user pleasantly high, a different product may give the user an overwhelming experience caused by inhaling more THC than expected.
THC Vaping Can Cause Panic Attacks and Anxiety
More often than not, vaping THC doesn’t lead to serious illnesses. THC vaping does, however, create excessive anxiety in many people. Anxiety can become so intense that it gives cannabis users panic attacks.
Some users have even experienced psychotic episodes after ingesting large amounts of THC.
The high concentration of THC in vape pens has contributed to increased emergency room visits. One Colorado study shows that cannabis consumption led to 2,567 emergency visits at a Denver hospital between 2012 and 2016.
Panic attacks do not typically cause life-threatening symptoms. They do, however, cause intense fear and symptoms often mistaken for signs of a heart attack. Repeated panic attacks can also contribute to psychological issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder can undermine a person’s life by causing excessive worry about topics like health, work, money, and safety.
THC Vaping May Interfere With the Effects of Other Drugs, Including Alcohol
Finally, THC vaping can harm people by intensifying or weakening the effects of other drugs. Limited research on the topic shows that cannabis likely interacts with intoxicants and prescription drugs, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) used to treat depression and anxiety.
- Central nervous system (CNS) depressants that treat anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders.
- Anticoagulants that thin blood to prevent clots.
- Antiviral drugs that treat illnesses like influenza, herpes, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The excessive concentration of THC in vape cartridges can also intensify the effects of alcohol. Cannabis opens blood vessels in the digestive tract, which increases how quickly your body can absorb alcohol. When mixing the two drugs, you can get unwanted results that include vomiting, nausea, poor coordination, and memory loss.
What to Do If You’ve Had a Negative Experience From THC Vaping
If you believe that THC vaping has caused you personal injury, contact Bennett Injury Law Firm to schedule a free initial legal consultation. You may find that you’re entitled to compensation from companies that have not adequately disclosed the dangers of THC vaping.
