Is Vaping CBD Oil Bad For Your Lungs?
Remember when the vape scene first took front and center? Maybe you were sitting at a restaurant across from a friend and looked up from your noodles to a billowing fruity cloud.
Perhaps you were at a family gathering and a relative whom you were sure quit smoking years ago was over there puffing mimosa flavored smoke like a dragon. Maybe your kid came home one day all smug and shameless in a fog of s’more breath.
Early proponents of vaping claimed it was a healthier alternative to smoking which we now know has many adverse health effects. It took almost 200 years for the public to become educated about the dangers of smoking. Vaping has been rising in popularity for the last 10 years however we have already witnessed that it may have some serious risks of its own.
When Something Good Goes Bad
We’ve known for a long time that the chemical nicotine is addictive and contains virtually nothing beneficial to our health whether you’re smoking, vaping, or chewing. Similar to nicotine, THC is often used and enjoyed recreationally rather than medicinally.
However, CBD is different. It is primarily used to reduce the effects of stress, pain, sleeplessness, and inflammation. Many find vaping to be a quick and easy method of delivery for something they need to better function.
The question is, does vaping CBD oil hurt your lungs? Because we know first hand the extraordinary degree of relief and healing that can take place with the use of CBD, we want to weigh in on the issue and tackle the dangers of vaping as well as highlight some alternatives.
What is Vaping Anyway?
Vaping is a method of using Nicotine, THC or CBD oil that consists of inhaling from a pen-like gadget with a mouthpiece. A heating element then converts the oil into aerosol upon inhalation. Aerosol consists of fine particles which often contain varying amounts of chemicals. The result is a fast and strong absorption of any active chemicals and potentially immediate results. It’s important to note here that the chemicals typically present in an aerosol have been linked to cancer, as well as respiratory health risks and heart disease, according to the CDC’s website.
To Vape or Not to Vape?
Most health officials will readily advise (and we agree): “NOT to vape.”
Sadly, in the last two years, this popular method for consuming nicotine, THC, and CBD has captured the attention of the medical world with a previously unseen respiratory illness. The illness is considered severe and has been directly linked to the use of the black market and commercial vaping products.
Take Jay Jenkins, whose first experience with “CBD” vaping a couple of weeks ago put him in a coma after just two puffs. Upon investigation, authorities found that Jenkins was the victim of black market operators whose product contained no actual CBD but instead a cheap and illegal synthetic marijuana that is proving to be very harmful, even fatal, to its consumers. This is unfortunately the danger of methods that slide under the radar of federal regulation as many vaping products have.
According to the Associated Press:
“The practice has sent dozens of people like Jenkins to emergency rooms over the last two years. Yet people behind spiked products have operated with impunity, in part because the business has boomed so fast that regulators haven’t caught up while drug enforcement agents have higher priorities.”
Responding to this outbreak in an interview with the New York Times, Governor Cuomo spoke of his decision to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, stating:
“No one can say long-term use of vaping — where you’re inhaling steam and chemicals deep into your lungs — is healthy.”
And regarding the cannabis industry the AP admitted:
“Cannabis insiders are only shocked by one thing: how long the crisis took to surface.”
Behind the Scenes
The AP further reports:
“It’s hard for consumers to know how much CBD they are getting, if any at all. As with many products, federal and state regulators rarely test what’s inside — for the most part, quality control is left to manufacturers.”
“And there’s a financial incentive to cut corners. One website advertises synthetic marijuana for as little as $25 per pound — the same amount of natural CBD costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars.”
The truth about the vaping industry is that it has somehow flown under the radar of federal regulations and largely evaded medical scrutiny until now. This has made it particularly vulnerable to corruption by black market sellers who cut their vaping substances with harmful thinning agents or thickeners such as Vitamin E Acetate.
Furthermore, the line between black market knock off products and brand name commercial product is blurred, as the black market has largely infiltrated the commercial vaping scene.
Vape users who bypass black market sellers aren’t guaranteed safety from inhaling these harmful chemicals. Many commercial sellers have taken advantage of the largely unregulated vaping industry, compromising the integrity of the product for larger profit margins.
Where Do We Go From Here?
It’s obvious that the world of vaping is in dire need of federal reform.
There is still much to find out. For instance, the AP has begun an entirely new investigation of products spiked with potentially psychoactive chemicals.
At this point, E-cigarettes are getting the bulk of public attention and federal reform, but THC and CBD oils for vaping have been reported to cause the same severe respiratory problems and are generally less regulated than nicotine products.
One thing is very clear. The presence of toxic chemicals in vaping products has left us with an alarming health crisis. Unknowingly partaking in various synthetic chemicals found in vaping products has sickened over 500 people and killed eight. It’s tragic that it took so many victims to catch our attention and it’s time to address it.
Until the necessary regulations are in place and consumers can know that they’re safe to use commercial products, we urge CBD users to ditch the vape pens and explore other avenues of consumption. Commonly, CBD users know the value of the product by its ability to relieve pain and provide them with an enhanced mental and physical wellbeing. Methods for consuming CBD oil are plenty and growing every day.
At Shah Saffron CBD, we strongly believe in the healing benefits of CBD when consumed in its pure form and in appropriate quantities. Our products are not only manufactured with natural, US sourced ingredients, but they are also manufactured with the highest level of integrity, rejecting any raw materials that do not meet our standards. Our goal as a company is to always be transparent and offer the highest quality of products to our clients.
Are you ready to replace your vaping oil with CBD oil or simply try CBD for its wellness effects? Check out our products or shoot us a message with any questions.
