Why you shouldn’t smoke medical cannabis? Smoking vs vaporisation

Medical cannabis is used to treat many different conditions. The method of consumption is crucial for treatment effectiveness, dosing precision, and patient comfort. Although smoking might seem like the simplest method, there are many reasons to consider other forms of application, especially vaporisation.

What will you learn from this article?

👉 Why shouldn’t you smoke medical cannabis?

👉 What are other methods of taking medical cannabis?

👉 How does smoking affect the health of patients using medical cannabis?

Table of contents:

Cannabis smoking – a primitive method from the past 🚬

Smoking was for a long time the only known method of cannabis consumption. However, technological development and scientific research have shown that it’s not the optimal solution. During plant material combustion, up to 90% of the resulting smoke consists of tar substances that can be harmful to health.

When I see someone smoking medical cannabis, it reminds me that using Stone Age technology in the 21st century isn’t always the best idea.

VapoManiak – professional vaporiser reviewer

Moreover, secondhand cannabis smoke poses a real threat to people in the vicinity. This is particularly important for families with children or elderly people. Smoke penetrates rooms, and the smell settles on furniture and can persist for a long time.

Therapeutic effectiveness and method of medical cannabis administration 🧑‍⚕️

Different types of medical cannabis contain varied cannabinoid and terpene profiles that together create therapeutic effects. During smoking, a significant portion of these valuable compounds is destroyed by high temperatures. As a result, the patient not only receives a smaller dose of medicinal substances but also loses the opportunity to utilise the plant’s full therapeutic potential.

Terpenes, which are extremely important for therapy, are particularly sensitive to high temperatures. Their loss during smoking means the therapeutic effect is significantly weaker.

This is particularly important when using medical cannabis for depression, where the terpene profile plays a crucial role in antidepressant effects. For conditions like chronic pain or Parkinson’s disease, physical symptoms may worsen if the patient isn’t receiving the proper medication dosage.

Vaporisation vs smoking – key differences 😮‍💨

While smoking destroys valuable compounds, vaporisation allows for their precise release. At temperatures typically between 180-220 degrees Celsius, we can selectively release different cannabinoids and terpenes, adjusting the effect to the time of day and therapeutic needs.

Lower temperatures (around 170-180 degrees Celsius) are ideal for mental clarity. Higher temperatures (around 200-220 degrees Celsius) work well in the evening when we want stronger calming and pain-relieving effects.

Medical cannabis side effects – differences between smoking and vaporisation 🍀

The question “is cannabis harmful” should be considered in the context of consumption methods. While the substance itself may have certain side effects, smoking significantly increases them through additional body burden from toxins produced during combustion.

Many patients incorrectly interpret stronger effects as better effectiveness. In reality, this is the result of mild toxin poisoning, including carbon monoxide which causes brain hypoxia – all due to the smoke’s composition. This is not a desired therapeutic effect and can lead to deterioration of health.

The economic aspect of each method 😶‍🌫️

Smoking is also less economical. A significant portion of active substances is destroyed or evaporates into the atmosphere. With vaporisation, we can use plant material much more efficiently.

Moreover, the residue after vaporisation (known as ABV – Already Been Vaped) still contains active compounds and can be used to prepare oral preparations such as oils or butter. However, edibles like brownies or cookies will be much more interesting.

Dosage control and safety 🍃

During smoking, it isn’t easy to control the dose of active substances taken. This can lead to cannabis overdose which, although not fatally dangerous, can cause unpleasant experiences. Vaporisation allows precise control of released cannabinoids through temperature and session time regulation.

This is particularly important for patients starting therapy. Vaporisation enables starting with low temperatures and small doses, which helps avoid unwanted effects and find the optimal amount of preparation.

Adaptation to the new method 🥴

Switching from smoking to vaporisation may require a short adaptation period. Initially, some patients may feel that the effects are weaker. However, this is a deceptive impression resulting from the absence of toxins that provide an additional intoxicating effect during smoking.

After 2-3 weeks of using vaporisation exclusively, patients typically come to appreciate the cleaner and more therapeutic effects of this method. However, much depends on the individual’s body, lifestyle, and even personal habits.

Summary 🤔

Although smoking has been the dominant method of cannabis consumption for a long time, the development of medical knowledge and technology indicates that it’s not the optimal solution in therapy. Vaporisation offers not only a safer but also more effective method of utilizing medical cannabis’s therapeutic properties.

It allows for full utilisation of the plant’s therapeutic potential while minimising the risk of side effects associated with inhaling harmful substances produced during combustion.