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Use of e-cigarettes to vaporize marijuana common among teens
Rates of smoking marijuana via electronic cigarettes were high among high school students who regularly use electronic cigarettes, smoke marijuana, or use both, according to recent study results.
“The results of this study provide important evidence that high school students are using e-cigarettes to vaporize cannabis,” researcher Meghan E. Morean, PhD, of the department of psychology at Oberlin College, and colleagues wrote. “At this time, the relative safety of using e-cigarettes for vaping cannabis vs. smoking combustible cannabis is not well-established.”
The researchers queried 3,847 students from five Connecticut high schools in the spring of 2014 through an anonymous survey that assessed the use of marijuana and e-cigarettes. Along with gathering demographic and socioeconomic data, the survey asked students whether they used e-cigarettes, used marijuana in the past 30 days, or used e-cigarettes to vaporize marijuana.
Study results showed that use of electronic cigarettes to smoke marijuana oil or wax was common among all participants surveyed, with 5.4% of students. Vaporizing was even more common among students who were regular e-cigarette users (18%), students who were regular marijuana users (18.4%), and students who used both (26.5%).
Participant responses related to the type of marijuana smoked via e-cigarettes varied. Dried cannabis leaves were used most commonly (6.7%), compared with hash oil (4.5%) and wax infused with THC (3%).
The researchers said regular e-cigarette users, regular marijuana users, male students and younger students were most likely to use e-cigarettes to smoke marijuana. They suggested further research to determine the dangers highlighted by their study findings.
“A recent study indicated that adults who vaporize hash oil experience greater subjective tolerance and evidence of dependence compared with those smoking combustible cannabis,” Morean and colleagues wrote. “As e-cigarettes and related devices continue to gain popularity among youth, it will be important to monitor rates of using these products to vaporize cannabis.” – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
