Vaping marijuana is often touted as safer than smoking it. That's because vaporizers heat—but don't burn—herb, oil, or wax forms of marijuana inhaled through the device. However, vaping marijuana isn't safe in general, and in some ways, it may be more dangerous than smoking weed.
Both smoking and vaping marijuana generally have been considered safer than smoking cigarettes, and safer than vaping with nicotine products that may introduce new health hazards rather than reducing all harm. Some people prefer to vape marijuana due to the milder smell, ease of use, and affordability, but vaping marijuana may not be safer. puffco
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that vaping of any kind can cause or contribute to lung disease. Serious cases of EVALI (electronic cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) have been linked to vaping cannabidiol (CBD) oil.
CBD products are largely unregulated, so it's possible that the oils contain dangerous substances.
There are studies to suggest that in some ways vaping may be safer than smoking (lower carbon monoxide risk, for example). With what's known about it right now, though, experts say it isn't safe—or even safer— to vape marijuana.
For example, a small 2019 study focused on vaping-related lung damage in 17 people, among whom 71% were vaping cannabis oil or marijuana. Lung injury and illness associated with vaping included:
Two of the cases involving damage to the alveoli proved fatal.
The risk of damage increases significantly if your vape product contains a chemical called vitamin E acetate. In 2019, an outbreak of severe lung disease from vaping was largely blamed on this vitamin.
In the first few months, more than 2,500 people were hospitalized or killed by EVALI. Among those people:
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend against all vaping but especially recommend not vaping THC oil. Even with legal products, vaping THC oil just one time can significantly harm your lungs.
Much remains for researchers to learn about EVALI. Some chest X-rays of people with EVALI show signs of lung irritation by oily chemicals, which could include both vitamin E acetate and THC oil itself.
While vitamin E acetate has been removed from some products, vaping marijuana in general continues to fall under scrutiny. Other harmful ingredients used in vaping products include:
Flavors and other ingredients may combine to form harmful chemicals when heated.
If you notice these symptoms after vaping, get emergency medical attention:
Vaporizer products purchased from a dispensary may be safer than black-market vape products. However, even where cannabis is legal for medical use, you should still make sure the products you choose are legal and fully tested.
Dispensaries should be able to provide a full report of the product's lab results. Beware of those that don't charge a sales tax or evade other regulations, which may increase your risk of illness or injury.
Vape products contain concentrated forms of marijuana, which means THC levels are many times higher than in the highest-quality marijuana. That makes vaping them especially likely to cause negative side effects or long-term health problems including:
Vaping THC oil is linked to an additional set of side effects, especially in frequent users. They include dry eyes and mouth, increased hunger, and feeling sick, drowsy, or restless.
While inhaling marijuana can harm your lungs, it's used in other forms to help treat the symptoms of cancer and cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. The FDA has approved two drugs that are synthetic forms of cannabis for this purpose. They also can be used to treat anorexia with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Smoking anything—be it tobacco or marijuana leaves—is inarguably dangerous to your health. When you smoke, you inhale very hot pieces of debris that irritate the sensitive tissue in your lungs.
Compared to the hot, harsh smoke of burning leaves, the aerosol made by vaporizers can feel much smoother on the lungs. But that doesn't mean they're safer.
Creates smoke from burning tobacco or marijuana
Harms the lungs, but vaping may be even worse for cannabis
Creates aerosol from heating but not combustion
May be less harm for nicotine but doesn't eliminate health risk
Vaping reduces chemical exposure when compared with smoking but can lead to nicotine addiction and potentially fatal lung disease. Vaping marijuana, though, appears to be more dangerous than vaping or even smoking nicotine products.
If you or someone you know has a marijuana or other substance use disorder (addiction), there are several options for getting help. This includes resources from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can:
Marijuana vaporizers are typically pen-like devices with an opening to inhale the vapor from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oils, or to use marijuana concentrates made from parts of the cannabis plant that contain high THC levels.
The vape heats the product but keeps it below the threshold of combustion. People inhale the vapor or aerosol, but the lack of smoke doesn't necessarily make CBD vape pens safe.
There are different types of marijuana vaporizers:
In addition to marijuana flower and cannabis oil, there are synthetic cannabinoids made in the lab that you can use in vaping cartridges or mix with dried flower.
You can use marijuana without either smoking or vaping. Where cannabis is legal, you can buy it in many different forms that are considered significantly safer:
Keep in mind that the FDA has approved only four cannabis-related drugs, available by prescription. They are Epidiolex (cannabidiol) and three synthetic drugs:
While other products are touted for specific health conditions and available on the market, that does not mean they are regulated or their health benefits proven for a certain diagnosis.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has warned that vaping is an emerging public health threat where American teens are concerned.
However, since a high point in 2019, vaping use has dropped in teens. During 2023-2024, the CDC reports that just 5.9% of children in middle and high school used a vape device for tobacco. Still, that's more than 2 million youth.
Most teens report using vape devices for nicotine, or flavored products only. However, officials urge teens (and the adults who care about them) to understand the potential health consequences.
Resources are available to schools and families to help them identify vape devices, how they're used, and the safety and health risks they present.
The 2019 EVALI outbreak, as well as ongoing research, suggest that vaping marijuana is dangerous in general and may actually be more dangerous than vaping nicotine products or even smoking cigarettes.
This may, at least in part, be due to ingredients of vape products, including vitamin E acetate, flavorings, and other additives. Safer ways to consume marijuana include edibles, sublingual products, and suppositories.
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By Robyn Correll, MPH Correll holds a master of public health degree and has over a decade of experience working in the prevention of infectious diseases.
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