One of the newest trends in the growing vaping culture is vaping cannabidiol (CBD) oil. However, vaping CBD oil comes with a number of health risks. Learn more about the side effects and dangers of vaping CBD oil, as well as other ways to enjoy the potential benefits of CBD.
Why smoke CBD oil?
Especially in places where marijuana is legal, CBD has been touted as a treatment for a variety of medical issues, including:
Anxiety epileptic seizures
Inflammation insomnia
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one CBD-based medicine: Epiodorex, which is used to treat seizures associated with two severe types of epilepsy.
Ongoing research suggests that CBD may have physical and mental health benefits, but there is not yet enough evidence to recommend it as a therapeutic agent.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is extracted from the flowers and buds of marijuana or hemp plants and typically contains very little tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), so it won't get you “high” or intoxicated.
At the federal level in the United States, only hemp-derived CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC is legal. At the state level, CBD is legal in states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal.
Vaping-related lung injury
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that liquid e-cigarette products have been linked to an outbreak of nearly 3,000 cases of severe lung illness that has resulted in hospitalization of young people.
Generally speaking, vaping any kind of liquid, including CBD oil, comes with health risks.
While the CDC has linked many of these hospitalizations to Vitamin E acetate (used to dilute CBD oil), the risks of vaping CBD oil are substantial. This is especially true for e-cigarettes sold by illegal dealers, online sources, or friends. At least 26 cases have involved vaping CBD oil.
Nearly 70 people have died from the illness now known as EVALI (E-Cigarette and Vaping Associated Lung Injury), and the CDC believes thousands more may have been hospitalized for vaping-related lung problems.
Concerns about long-term effects
Additionally, many scientists, doctors, and researchers are concerned about the safety of inhaling CBD oil, as little is known about its long-term effects. Additionally, when e-cigarette devices heat up, chemical reactions can occur that could pose additional risks to the lungs, especially for young people.
Potential side effects of vaping CBD
In addition to possible lung damage, vaping CBD can cause a variety of side effects, including:
Diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, impaired memory or thinking, nausea, stomach upset, vomiting, increased anxiety, mood changes, changes in appetite
CBD Regulation
The 2018 Farm Bill removed CBD from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. However, CBD is still subject to the same laws and regulations as other substances overseen by the FDA.
According to the FDA, selling CBD as a food or supplement is illegal at the federal level in the U.S. Nevertheless, the sale of CBD, which has no proven medical benefits and is of unknown quality, remains a problem.
The FDA has also warned that CBD may interact with other drugs and have adverse effects on the liver and male fertility. The agency has yet to determine how to effectively regulate CBD vaping products.
Wanted: Regulation
Organizations like the American Hemp Association can’t certify CBD oil in the same way they can certify CBD topicals, tinctures, and edibles due to a lack of supporting research. Until some kind of standard is adopted, consumers have no way of knowing exactly what they’re buying and using.
False representation
This lack of certification has led to the sale of counterfeit CBD oil products that sometimes contain harmful chemicals. To determine the extent to which this is occurring, The Associated Press commissioned a study of nearly 30 oils claiming to contain CBD. Flora Research Laboratories, licensed and inspected by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), conducted the study and found the following:
Ten of the 30 vapes contained synthetic marijuana. Eight oils contained no detectable CBD. Fourteen oils contained less than 0.3% CBD by weight. Six oils contained between 1.07% and 8.87% CBD by weight.
The tests were conducted on a very small sample size, and the Associated Press noted that the samples are not necessarily representative of the CBD market as a whole.
Other studies have found that mislabeling of CBD affects up to 70% of CBD products sold online.
Alternatives to CBD vaping
If you want to try CBD but want to avoid the risks associated with vaping, try these forms:
Beverages Capsules Edibles Gummy Candy Nasal Spray Tablets
However, it is important to note that these are also unregulated.
When purchasing CBD, look for manufacturers that use third-party testing to verify the ingredients and content of their products.
summary
If you are considering vaping CBD oil to address a health concern, consult with your doctor first. In an unregulated market, the risks associated with vaping and CBD oil can be significant, and counterfeit products will not deliver the promised effects.
Verywell Mind only uses high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. To learn more about how we fact-check and ensure our content is accurate and trustworthy, please see our editorial process.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The FDA has approved the first drug containing an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat a rare and serious form of epilepsy.
Black N, Stockings E, Campbell G, Tran LT, Zagic D, Hall WD, et al. Cannabinoids for the treatment of psychiatric and psychotic disorder symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6(112):P995-1010. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30401-8
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with Use of E-Cigarette or Vaping Products.
FDA. FDA regulation of dietary supplements and conventional foods that contain cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What you need to know (and what we're going to find out) about products that contain cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds, including CBD.
Associated Press. How the Associated Press gathered information about CBD vapes.
Bonn-miller MO, Loflin MJE, Thomas BF, Marcu JP, Hyke T, Vandrey R. Label accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA. 2017;318(17):1708-1709. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909
Shelley Gordon
Shelley Gordon, CLC, is a published author, certified professional life coach, anti-bullying expert, and former editor of Columbus Parent, with countless years of experience writing and researching health and social issues.
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