Can you eat THC vape oil?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you eat THC vape oil” and discuss the effects of consuming Cannabis Concentrates.

Can you eat THC vape oil?

Yes, you can eat THC vape oil. 

Oral cannabis products, or ‘edibles’, come in a variety of forms. Both THC and CBD dominant cannabis-infused food/drink products are widely available, and are particularly popular in places where a legal retail cannabis infrastructure exists. 

In addition to food products, cannabis oils and tinctures intended for oral ingestion are also common, especially for CBD-dominant products. Between 30 and 47% of adults and approximately 61% of adolescent cannabis users have consumed edibles (1).

In addition, the chemical profile of the cannabis plant may now be used in a variety of ways by extracting the active elements into concentrates and distillates. Some of the equipment that may be utilized include dab rigs, bongs, vape pens, and desktop vaporizers.

What are the Cannabis Concentrates?

The active compounds found in the cannabis plant are concentrated in cannabis concentrates. The cannabinoids (CBD and THC) and terpenes are preserved, while the remainder of the contaminants is removed from the plant matter during processing. 

A technique known as “solvent extraction” involves soaking plant material in various solvents (isopropyl alcohol, butane, CO2, dry ice, and others) before extracting the active ingredients.

The sophisticated processing of cannabis concentrates results in a higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes than the original plant. 

Later, they may be solidified, crumble, or converted into wax for dabbing, or retained in their original liquid state as an oil or tincture for sublingual ingestion. They can be further processed into a variety of textures and consistencies.

Concentrated cannabis products (or “concentrates”) are made by extracting cannabinoids from the plant into a form with a much higher THC concentration than flower. 

In states with legalized use of cannabis, it is common for retail and medical dispensaries to sell concentrates with THC concentrations that are at least four times that of typical smoked flower strains. 

In 2015, the Colorado Department of Revenue reported the average THC strength of dispensary-sold flower strains was 17.1%, whereas the average concentrate strength was 62.1% THC (5).

What are the effects of consuming Cannabis Concentrates?

The effects of consuming cannabis concentrates are negative. 

With regard to physiological effects, THC produces an increased heart rate, reddened eyes, and a dry mouth. As for psychotropic effects, a mild euphoria, an enhanced sensory perception, fatigue, and eventually dysphoria together with anxiety have been observed. 

The following dose dependent effects were observed in clinical studies, both in vivo (i.e. in living organisms) and in vitro (i.e. in laboratory dishes): 

  • Psyche and perception: fatigue, euphoria, enhanced well-being, dysphoria, anxiety, disturbed orientation, increased sensory perception and enhanced sexual experience, hallucinations, psychotic states. 
  • Cognitive and psychomotoric performance: fragmented thinking, enhanced creativity, disturbed memory, unsteady walk, slurred speech. 
  • Nervous system: attenuation of pain, muscle relaxation, appetite enhancement, decrease in body temperature, vomiting, antiemetic effects, neuroprotective effects in brain ischemia. 
  • Cardiovascular system: increased heart rate, enhanced heart activity and increase in oxygen demand, vasodilation, reduced blood pressure, collapse. 
  • Eye: reddened conjunctiva, reduced tear flow, reduced intraocular pressure. 
  • Respiratory system: bronchodilation, dry mouth. 
  • Gastrointestinal tract: reduced bowel movements. 
  • Hormonal system: effects on luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, prolactine, somatotropin, TSH, reduced sperm count and sperm mobility and quality, suppressed ovulation and suppressed menstruation. 
  • Immune system: impairment of cell-mediated and humoral immunity, anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating effects. 
  • Fetal development: fetal malformations, fetal growth retardation, impairment to fetal and postnatal cerebral development, improved postnatal development (3).

What isTHC Vape Oil?

THC vape oil is a form of extracted THC to be used in vaporizers. A heating coil in the vaporizer warms up the concentrate and creates vapor, which is then inhaled.

Propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin may be added to THC vape oil in order to make it simpler for the battery to evaporate.

In a study, different commercial vape oil samples were analyzed. Results showed the presence of around 60 various terpenes, terpenoids, flavor and fragrance agents in the twelve tested samples. 

Although most of these 60 terpenes maybe natural substances carried over through extraction process from cannabis plants, it’s possible that some of the terpenes, especially some flavor and fragrance agents such as Valencene, Menthone, Benzyl Alcohol, D-Carvone, and Triacetin were purposely added into the extracted vape oil to enhance the flavor. 

Besides THC, samples also contained vitamin E acetate, medium chain glycerides and Polyethylene Glycol (2).

Other FAQs about Oils that you may be interested in.

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Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you eat thc vape oil?” and we discussed the effects of consuming Cannabis Concentrates.

Reference

  1. Spindle, Tory R., Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, and Ryan Vandrey. Changing landscape of cannabis: novel products, formulations, and methods of administration. Curr Opin Psychol, 2019, 30, 98-102. 
  2. Guo, Weihong, et al. Major constituents of cannabis vape oil liquid, vapor and aerosol in California vape oil cartridge samples. Front Chem, 2021, 9, 694905.  
  3. Grotenhermen, Franjo, Gero Leson, and Petra Pless. Assessment of exposure to and human health risk from THC and other cannabinoids in hemp foods. Leson Environmental Consulting, Berkeley. 2001.  
  4. Hazekamp, Arno. The trouble with CBD oil. Med cannab cannabin, 2018, 1, 65-72.
  5. Bidwell, L. Cinnamon, et al. Exploring cannabis concentrates on the legal market: User profiles, product strength, and health-related outcomes. Addict behav rep, 2018, 8, 102-106.