More research is needed on the toxicity of cannabis vaping products

Recently Toxicology study, scientists assessed the challenges vaping cannabinoid products pose during an analysis of their effects on consumers’ respiratory health.

Study: Cannabinoid Vaping Products Present New Challenges for Assessment of Respiratory Health Effects. Image Credit: Shannon L. Price / Shutterstock.com

Cannabinoid vaping products

Some common cannabinoid vaping products include D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC), D8-tetrahydrocannabinol (D8-THC), as well as cannabidiol (CBD) products.

Several studies regarding e-cigarettes or vaping have shown side effects, particularly in terms of their ability to cause lung injury, associated with cannabinoid vaping products. According to a February 2020 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, 2,807 people were hospitalized and 68 deaths occurred due to using cannabinoid vaping products.

Several studies have shown that among e-cigarette/vaping users with product use-related lung injury (EVALI), 82% reported using THC vaping products, while only 16% reported using CBD vaping products.

The two main reasons associated with limited research on vaping products containing THC and CBD are regulatory factors and significant evolution of the cannabinoid market. For example, the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Controlled Substances Act has classified THC under Schedule 1, which limits accessibility to products containing THC for scientific research.

Previous studies have shown that THC and CBD vaping products contain silicon, humectants, vitamins, flavorings, terpenes, pesticides, and metals. In addition, cannabinoid vaping products are typically characterized as concentrated “oil” and watered “vape juice”. Pen type devices are used for both types of products, where concentrated oil is used at concentrations ranging from 700 to 1,200 mg/ml and vape juice from 15 to 50 mg/ml.

As of September 2019, D8-THC can be legally sold in many US states. Similar to D8-THC, D9-THC is highly analogous to marijuana use and produces perceptual, somatic, and psychoactive effects. Compared to D8-THC, D9-THC has less psychoactive effects.

According to a recent study by Google Trends, since August 2020, there has been a significant increase in searches related to D8-THC. This compound is a minor constituent of hemp and can be easily extracted via the acid-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of CBD. Methods for isomerization of CBD to D8-THC are easily available online; however, improper chemical reactions may lead to product contamination.

Cannabinoid vaping product users

Researchers have pointed to gaps in research related to the health effects of cannabinoid vaping products, particularly those associated with vaping and inhalation exposure. One reason for this lack of data is that the US cannabinoid market is still relatively new. Interestingly, most of the data on the effects of cannabinoid vaping products have been attributed to adolescents.

According to a recent meta-analysis, lifetime use of THC vaping products in adolescents was found to increase from 6.1% to 13.6% between 2013 and 2020. The study reports that adolescents prefer THC vaping oil to cannabis flowers.

Similar to this report, a US-based survey showed higher use of cannabinoid vaping products in adolescents and young adults. However, the survey further reported that 26.1% of the adult participants of the study used CBD, while 18.9% used CBD vaping oil.

Previous findings on the health effects of cannabinoid vaping products among US adolescent participants identified an increased risk of several respiratory symptoms including wheezing and dry cough. In addition to affecting the lungs, this product also appears to affect the user’s brain and blood vessels. Furthermore, prenatal studies of THC use have shown altered brain development.

Toxicological assessment of cannabinoid vaping products

In the current study, scientists conducted a toxicological profile of cannabinoid vaping products. Here, they assess relevant dose-response patterns, additive and diluent toxicity, and inhalation exposure to inform federal policy.

In vitro Experiments examining the effects of exposure to CBD vaping products on airway epithelial cells have revealed high concentrations of toxicity markers present in exposed cells. Some of these markers include cellular reactive oxygen species, as well as those involved in cytotoxic and inflammatory processes.

Recently, the US Marijuana Council examined the chemical content of 16 commercially available D8-THC vaping cartridges. This study showed that all samples contained elevated D9-THC levels compared to the 0.3% federal limit. In addition, seven of the 16 samples contained high levels of chromium, nickel or copper.

Importantly, an unknown cannabinoid-like compound was also found in the samples. Previous studies have shown that consumption of synthetic cannabinoids results in psychosis, panic, dysphoria, anxiety, and accidental death in users.

Conclusion

Scientists strongly recommend further research to evaluate the pulmonary toxicity of emerging cannabinoid vaping products, as these studies are important to determine the effects of these products on inhalation exposure. Further studies are also needed to elucidate the cardiovascular and neurological toxicity associated with cannabinoid vaping products.

Journal reference:

• Love, AC, Schichlein, KD, Clapp, PW, et al. (2022). Cannabinoid Vaping Products Present New Challenges for Assessment of Respiratory Health Effects. Toxicology 188(1); 1-3. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfac050.

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