As vaping products become more popular for consuming cannabis, a recent study investigated whether there’s a link between vaping and driving under the influence (DUI) of cannabis among young adults aged 18 to 25.
According to the study, 23.8% of participants had vaped in the past year, and 9.7% reported engaging in past-year cannabis DUI. The study found that past-year vaping was connected to past-year cannabis use.
Among those who used cannabis in the past year, past-year vaping was also associated with past-year cannabis DUI. In essence, the research concluded that there is a relationship between vaping and cannabis DUI among individuals who use cannabis.
The Steady Rise of Cannabis Vaping
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2022 revealed that the majority of teens and young adults are currently vaping cannabis rather than nicotine.
The study aimed to differentiate between cannabis and nicotine vaping. The data, analyzed by Ruoyan Sun, showed that certain percentages of teenagers reported vaping cannabis instead of nicotine.
A separate 20-year national US study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Toxicology, reported a 245% increase in cannabis use among minors, accompanied by a consistent decline in alcohol consumption.
This data showcased changing abuse patterns over time. While previous cases often involved alcohol exposure, since 2011, child alcohol abuse has decreased while marijuana abuse has risen. The most significant increase occurred between 2017 and 2020.
Similarly, another recent study in JAMA Pediatrics reported that between 2013 and 2020, the prevalence of cannabis vaping among teens doubled across the US and Canada. Approximately 1 in 3 grade 12 students vaped cannabis in 2018 alone.
CBD Vaping Vs. Nicotine Vaping
A certain study compared the effects of vaping CBD and nicotine. The research involved inhaling CBD or nicotine aerosols in mice and conducting cytotoxicity experiments with human cells.
According to the study, vaping CBD triggers a potent inflammatory response that leads to more lung injury-related pathological changes compared to nicotine vaping. However, data from 2019 by the CDC indicated that the issue lies in Vitamin E Acetate found in illegal CBD cartridges, not regulated CBD.
Additionally, a US study published in Elsevier observed that more high schoolers reported vaping cannabis in states where medical cannabis is legal.
The data showed that around 27% of twelfth graders in states with medical marijuana laws reported vaping cannabis, compared to 19% in states where cannabis is not legal or only permitted for adult use.
