Vaping and smoking cannabis are different ways to inhale the substance. Both have side effects. Some people think vaping it may be better for you than smoking. However, recent research suggests otherwise.

Is CBD legal? The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC legal at the federal level. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level. Some states have legalized CBD, so be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.

In the United States, several states have legalized recreational and medical cannabis. In other states, only medical use is legal. However, it still remains illegal under federal law.

Cannabis products may contain a mixture of the cannabinoids, CBD and THC, though the ratios of each can vary. And some cannabis products may only contain CBD or THC.

Since vaping does not involve burning tar as smoking does, people may think it’s a safer way to inhale weed.

However, mounting evidence suggests that vaping, including cannabis, also has serious health effects.

Smoking uses dried plant parts or concentrates.

People smoke cannabis in several ways:

  • One way is to roll dried parts of the flower into a joint using cigarette paper.
  • Some people mix their cannabis with tobacco (often called a spliff)
  • Some people use bongs or pipes to smoke.
  • Sometimes people smoke more potent forms of cannabis than the flower, called concentrates. These include hash and kief.

When someone smokes cannabis, they usually hold the smoke in their lungs longer than if it were just tobacco, putting them at greater risk for exposure to tar, which is harmful to the lungs.

Vaping uses concentrated extracts or ground dry herb.

Vaping can deliver higher concentrations of THC per inhalation, which may lead to stronger effects. THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis that causes a “high“.

This also means you’re more likely to experience negative effects from vaping cannabis compared with smoking it. A 2018 study found that first-time and infrequent cannabis users were more likely to experience negative reactions from vaping cannabis when compared to smoking, due to higher blood THC concentrations.

Vapes contain a multitude of chemicals that may be harmful to health. Additionally, cannabis vape liquids could contain metal particles in the vape liquid, according to a recent study.

How quickly do you feel the effects??

Both smoking and vaping have an almost immediate effect on the body. Their effects typically peak within 10 to 15 minutes.

It’s best to start vaping or smoking very slowly, taking in a small amount at first and waiting 20 to 30 minutes before having any more.

It is always recommended that a person seek guidance from a healthcare professional before using any CBD or THC products.

While more research on the effects of consuming cannabis is needed, smoking any substance — including cannabis — is generally not good for you.

Research suggests vaping liquids may also be detrimental to health and can cause serious problems. So, it seems that opting to vape rather than smoke cannabis might not be a safer option after all.