Decreased respiratory symptoms in cannabis users who vaporize

[mouthwater]

Decreased respiratory symptoms in cannabis users who vaporize
Mitch Earleywine(1) and Sara Smucker Barnwell(2)
(1) Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York...
(2) Department of Psychology, University of Southern California...

Harm Reduction Journal 2007, 4:11 doi:10.1186/1477-7517-4-11
Published: 16 April, 2007.
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Abstract
Cannabis smoking can create respiratory problems. Vaporizers heat cannabis to release active cannabinoids, but remain cool enough to avoid the smoke and toxins associated with combustion. Vaporized cannabis should create fewer respiratory symptoms than smoked cannabis. We examined self-reported respiratory symptoms in participants who ranged in cigarette and cannabis use. Data from a large Internet sample revealed that the use of a vaporizer predicted fewer respiratory symptoms even when age, sex, cigarette smoking, and amount of cannabis used were taken into account. Age, sex, cigarettes, and amount of cannabis also had significant effects. The number of cigarettes smoked and amount of cannabis used interacted to create worse respiratory problems. A significant interaction revealed that the impact of a vaporizer was larger as the amount of cannabis used increased. These data suggest that the safety of cannabis can increase with the use of a vaporizer. Regular users of joints, blunts, pipes, and water pipes might decrease respiratory symptoms by switching to a vaporizer[.]
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(Emphasis mine.)
Full report provided on Harm Reduction Journal's website.

[enquirewithin]

Vaporisers do eliminate all the carcinogens caused by burning. The 'hit' is also more pure. It would be hard to convince die-hard 'joint' and chillum smokers of the benefits. They are very much at risk from tobacco smoke.

[lulz]

In fact...

TUESDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- While smoking marijuana is never good for the lungs, the active ingredient in pot may help fight lung cancer, new research shows. Harvard University researchers have found that, in both laboratory and mouse studies, delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cuts tumor growth in half in common lung cancer while impeding the cancer's ability to spread.
The compound "seems to have a suppressive effect on certain lines of cancer cells," explained Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

full article here - http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/hea...out603764.html


It would be a great twist of fate if smoking pot with a vaporiser makes you even less likely to get lung cancer than non-pot smokers.