Experiences of Marijuana-Vaporizer Users

Abstract

Background: Using a marijuana vaporizer may have potential harm-reduction advantages on smoking marijuana, in that the user does not inhale smoke. Little research has been published on use of vaporizers. Methods: In the first study of individuals using a vaporizer on their own initiative, 96 adults anonymously answered questions about their experiences with a vaporizer and their use of marijuana with tobacco. Results: Users identified four advantages to using a vaporizer over smoking marijuana: perceived health benefits, better taste, no smoke smell, and more effect from the same amount of marijuana. Users identified two disadvantages: inconvenience of setup and cleaning and the time it takes to get the device operating for each use. Only two individuals combined tobacco in the vaporizer mix, while 15 combined tobacco with marijuana when they smoked marijuana. Almost all participants intended to continue using a vaporizer. Conclusions: Vaporizers seem to have appeal to marijuana users, who perceive them as having harm-reduction and other benefits. Vaporizers are worthy of experimental research evaluating health-related effects of using them.