The Risks of THC Oil

Vaping THC oil involves heating the oil and inhaling it through a vaporizing device like a vape pen or e-cigarette. Many healthcare providers are concerned about the health-related effects of this THC product type.

Marijuana use carries many risks, including addiction. Keep reading to learn more about the risks of THC oil, how to spot the signs that someone you know might have a marijuana addiction, and how you can get help with addiction, withdrawal, and recovery.

Overview of THC Oil

THC is the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana and the substance that produces intoxication effects. In addition to its psychoactive effects, THC is also believed to impact pain, mood, and other feelings. It creates these effects by impacting cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

While some states have legalized the medical and recreational use of marijuana and marijuana products, it is still illegal according to federal law. Marijuana use in any form also comes with short-term and long-term health risks.

Risks of THC Oil

Research suggests that vaping THC oil, especially oil that contains vitamin E acetate, can be particularly harmful to the lungs. Vitamin E acetate, which is regularly added to THC when preparing it for use in e-cigarettes and vaping devices, is especially harmful when it's inhaled.

In 2019, the dangers of vaping came to light. In September of that year, health officials began investigating an outbreak of a severe lung disease associated with vaping and e-cigarettes. By December, 2,561 cases of the lung disease, often referred to as e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI), had resulted in hospitalization or death.

Vaping THC oil just once can significantly impact your lungs. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that first-time and infrequent users of marijuana were more likely to experience adverse reactions from vaping THC oil.

This study's authors suggest that the negative impacts of this THC ingestion method are largely due to the enhanced delivery of the oil. This was evidenced by participants having more pronounced effects and experiencing significant impacts on their motor skills and cognitive abilities.

Marijuana concentrates, such as those used in vaping, also have incredibly high THC levels—up to four times as high as those found in top-shelf marijuana. This may also explain why their effects are more enhanced. Research suggests that some forms of THC oil contain THC levels up to 70%, compared to 30% in dried flower forms of marijuana. Regularly using such products increases the risks of cognitive impairment, dependence, psychosis, and withdrawal symptoms.

Other Risks of Vaping THC Oil

There are a number of other risks that have been associated specifically with marijuana use. Among them are:

• Coordination issues
• Distorted senses (such as sight, sound, touch)
• Increased anxiety
• Increased heart rate
• Issues with attention, memory, and learning
• Paranoia and marijuana-induced psychosis

Longer-lasting side effects of marijuana use include learning, memory, and sleep issues. People who use marijuana repeatedly over time may also experience effects such as:

• Increased risk of addiction
• Increased risk of chronic cough
• Increased risk of schizophrenia (if a genetic risk also exists)
• Learning and memory issues

Signs of THC Oil Use

How do you know if someone in your life might be vaping THC oil? Signs of marijuana use can include:

• Being drowsy during the daytime
• Having bloodshot eyes
• Inability to judge time
• Increased cough or wheezing
• Increased hunger for no apparent reason
• Lack of focus or inability to concentrate
• Secretive behavior
• Trouble with coordination
• Unusually talkative
• Vaping devices or oils in their possession or in their room
• Weird, unexplained smells (some THC vaping oils are flavored, resulting in a variety of scents)

Marijuana vaping use is on the rise, particularly in certain age groups. For instance, the number of college-age students who've vaped in the past month increased from 5.2% to 14% in just two years' time. A 2022 study adds that the number of teens vaping cannabis in the last 30 days increased seven-fold from 2013 to 2020.

Other Concerns About THC Oil

There are a couple of misconceptions surrounding both THC and vaping.

THC Is Not the Same as CBD

Some people confuse THC with CBD (cannabidiol), another cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. However, it's important to note that CBD oil and THC oil impact the body in completely different ways.

One notable difference is that while THC has psychoactive properties, CBD does not. As a result, CBD does not make you intoxicated. CBD is also believed to work with other receptors in the body to produce an overall feeling of well-being.  

There are also legality differences. As of April 2024, 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia have approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes. As of November 2023, 24 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia have approved marijuana for recreational use.

Conversely, the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp (of which CBD oil is a derivative) from the definition of marijuana, making it legal federally as long as it contains 0.3% THC or less.

Vaping THC Is Not Safer Than Smoking It

It is a common misconception that vaping is less risky than smoking. A 2018 Gallup Poll found that most Americans believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking, with 40% of the respondents indicating that marijuana was "not too" harmful. Some think this because vaping involves inhaling vapor rather than smoke. The issue is that there isn't enough research to support this belief.

Other health experts warn that vaping marijuana may even damage the lungs more so than smoking or vaping nicotine. This doesn't mean that vaping nicotine is safe, but that vaping THC oil is thought to create a greater amount of lung damage.

A study published in Addiction adds that while vaping nicotine may be safer than smoking cigarettes, the same may not hold true when it comes to marijuana. In fact, additives like vitamin E acetate may make this delivery method even more dangerous than smoking marijuana, putting the person's lungs at a greater risk for injury.

Tolerance, Dependence, and Withdrawal

If you vape THC oil regularly, you may develop a tolerance, potentially through the way cannabis creates neuroadaptive changes in the brain. Vaping THC oil can also lead to a substance use disorder.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that between 9% and 30% of people who use marijuana develop some sort of substance use disorder. Also, people who begin using marijuana before they turn 18 are four to seven times more likely than adults to develop cannabis use disorder.

Addiction

The National Institute on Drug Abuse shares that cannabis use disorder can turn into a marijuana addiction if the usage of this drug cannot be stopped even when it interferes with various aspects of your life. This could include causing issues at work, school, or home.

Additionally, because some confuse dependence with addiction, it is unclear exactly how many people may be addicted to marijuana. Though, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that one in 10 people using marijuana will develop an addiction.

Withdrawal

People with a history of long-term marijuana use (including vaping THC oil) may experience mild withdrawal symptoms if they stop. These include:

• Anxiety
• Cravings
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Reduced appetite

Symptoms such as these can make it difficult to quit using marijuana. Though they are typically mild, if they are bothersome or severe, talk to your healthcare provider. They may be able to help.

How to Get Help

Several options exist for people who want help with their marijuana use. Ones that seem to provide the best outcome include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy, which includes learning how to identify and correct behaviors, resulting in better self-control and the resolution of issues contributing to drug use
• Contingency management, which is a form of behavioral therapy that involves monitoring certain behaviors and instituting rewards if a specific positive behavior occurs, or rewarding a lack of the behavior if that is the desired outcome
• Motivational enhancement therapy, which helps promote motivation within the individual to change, and to engage in treatment

At this time, no medications are FDA-approved to treat cannabis use disorder, but research is ongoing for several options that may help by relieving issues related to stress, anxiety, and trouble sleeping.

Recovery from THC Oil Use

In addition to exploring your treatment options, it can also be helpful to enlist support resources as you recover from an addiction to THC oil. Options include:

• Choose how you will quit: There are two main options for quitting marijuana use: gradual tapering or cold turkey. Tapering your use can minimize withdrawal symptoms, but quitting cold turkey may be an option if you don't think you can reduce your use gradually on your own.
• Join support groups: Joining a support group for marijuana addiction can be an excellent source of encouragement, information, and strength. 
• Find distractions: Look for ways to cope with drug cravings such as finding distractions. Engaging in hobbies or spending time with friends are strategies that can help take your mind off cravings. Exercise has also been shown to be an effective way to deal with marijuana cravings.