Cannabis Vaporizer Combines
Efficient Delivery of THC
with Effective Suppression
of Pyrolytic Compounds
Dale Gieringer
Joseph St. Laurent
Scott Goodrich
http://www.canorml.org/healthfacts/j...ingervapor.pdf
INTRODUCTION
Concern about the respiratory hazards of smoking has spurred the development
of vaporization as an alternative method of medical cannabis
administration. Cannabis vaporization is a relatively new technology
aimed at suppressing respiratory toxins by heating cannabis to a temperature
where cannabinoid vapors form (typically around 180-190°C),
but below the point of combustion where smoke and associated toxins
are produced (near 230°C). The purpose of this is to permit the inhalation
of medically active cannabinoids while avoiding noxious smoke
compounds that pose respiratory hazards. Of particular concern are
the carcinogenic polynuclear (or “polycyclic”) aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), known byproducts of combustion that are thought to be a major
culprit in smoking-related cancers. While there exists no epidemiological
evidence that marijuana smokers face a higher risk of smoking-related
cancers, studies have found that they do face a higher risk of
bronchitis and respiratory infections (Polen et al. 1993, Tashkin 1993).
This risk is not thought to be due to cannabinoids, but rather to extraneous
byproducts of pyrolysis in the smoke.
The HPLC analysis of the vapor found that the Volcano delivered
36%-61% of the THC in the sample, a delivery efficiency that compares
favorably to that of marijuana cigarettes.
The GC/MS analysis showed that the gas phase of the vapor consisted
overwhelmingly of cannabinoids, with trace amounts of three other compounds.
In contrast, over 111 compounds were identified in the combusted
smoke, including several known PAHs.
The results indicate that vaporization can deliver therapeutic doses of
cannabinoids with a drastic reduction in pyrolytic smoke compounds.
Vaporization therefore appears to be an attractive alternative to smoked
marijuana for future medical cannabis studies.
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