T
The420Guy
Guest
San Francisco, CA: Medical marijuana patients may be able to protect
themselves from harmful toxins in marijuana smoke by inhaling their
medicine using an electric vaporizer, according to initial results of a
study by California NORML and Multidisciplinary Association for
Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
The study showed that it is possible to vaporize medically active
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by heating marijuana to a temperature short of
the point of combustion, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing
potentially harmful smoke toxins that are normally present in marijuana
smoke. Vaporizers may therefore substantially reduce what is widely
regarded as the leading health concern associated with marijuana, namely
respiratory harm due to smoking.
NORML and MAPS sponsored the study in the hopes of helping medical
marijuana patients and others reduce the health risks of smoking
marijuana. A major obstacle to approval of natural cannabis by the
Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its 1999 report, "Marijuana and Medicine,"
was that smoking is an unhealthy delivery method. The IOM report failed
to note the possibility of vaporization.
The NORML-MAPS study tested a device called the M1 Volatizer(R), an
aromatherapy vaporizer developed by Alternative Delivery Systems, Inc. It
consisted of an electric heating element in a chamber that radiates heat
downwards over a sample of marijuana contained in a standard bowl. Output
from the vaporizer was analyzed and compared to smoke produced by burning
the sample.
The vaporizer produced THC at a temperature of 185(deg) C. (365(deg) F.)
while completely eliminating three measured toxins - benzene, a known
carcinogen, plus toluene and naphthalene. Carbon monoxide and smoke tars
were both qualitatively reduced by the vaporizer, but additional testing
is needed to quantify the extent of the decrease.
The vaporizer study was undertaken as a follow-up to a previous
NORML-MAPS marijuana smoking device study, which concluded that
vaporizers offered the best prospects for smoke harm reduction:
www.maps.org/news-letters/v06n3/06359mj1.html
"Many medical marijuana patients say they prefer vaporizers because they
deliver smoother, less irritating medication," said Dale Gieringer, NORML
California State Coordinator.
NORML and MAPS are currently seeking support for further research and
development of vaporizers. Research is presently underway to explore the
optimal temperature and conditions for vaporization. An additional
$85,000 is needed to provide accurate measurement of carbon monoxide and
other toxins, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Further studies
may be needed to explore alternative device designs and the effects of
different marijuana sample consistency, potency and preparation.
For more information, please contact Dale Gieringer, California NORML
State Coordinator at (415) 563-5858.
themselves from harmful toxins in marijuana smoke by inhaling their
medicine using an electric vaporizer, according to initial results of a
study by California NORML and Multidisciplinary Association for
Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
The study showed that it is possible to vaporize medically active
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by heating marijuana to a temperature short of
the point of combustion, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing
potentially harmful smoke toxins that are normally present in marijuana
smoke. Vaporizers may therefore substantially reduce what is widely
regarded as the leading health concern associated with marijuana, namely
respiratory harm due to smoking.
NORML and MAPS sponsored the study in the hopes of helping medical
marijuana patients and others reduce the health risks of smoking
marijuana. A major obstacle to approval of natural cannabis by the
Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its 1999 report, "Marijuana and Medicine,"
was that smoking is an unhealthy delivery method. The IOM report failed
to note the possibility of vaporization.
The NORML-MAPS study tested a device called the M1 Volatizer(R), an
aromatherapy vaporizer developed by Alternative Delivery Systems, Inc. It
consisted of an electric heating element in a chamber that radiates heat
downwards over a sample of marijuana contained in a standard bowl. Output
from the vaporizer was analyzed and compared to smoke produced by burning
the sample.
The vaporizer produced THC at a temperature of 185(deg) C. (365(deg) F.)
while completely eliminating three measured toxins - benzene, a known
carcinogen, plus toluene and naphthalene. Carbon monoxide and smoke tars
were both qualitatively reduced by the vaporizer, but additional testing
is needed to quantify the extent of the decrease.
The vaporizer study was undertaken as a follow-up to a previous
NORML-MAPS marijuana smoking device study, which concluded that
vaporizers offered the best prospects for smoke harm reduction:
www.maps.org/news-letters/v06n3/06359mj1.html
"Many medical marijuana patients say they prefer vaporizers because they
deliver smoother, less irritating medication," said Dale Gieringer, NORML
California State Coordinator.
NORML and MAPS are currently seeking support for further research and
development of vaporizers. Research is presently underway to explore the
optimal temperature and conditions for vaporization. An additional
$85,000 is needed to provide accurate measurement of carbon monoxide and
other toxins, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Further studies
may be needed to explore alternative device designs and the effects of
different marijuana sample consistency, potency and preparation.
For more information, please contact Dale Gieringer, California NORML
State Coordinator at (415) 563-5858.
