Cannabis Vaping Health Risks Remain Prevalent Among Adolescents: Study

Use of cannabis vape products among U.S. teens continues to rise, raising concerns over mental, respiratory and cardiovascular health.

New research indicates that the use of THC vape and other cannabis products continued to rise among U.S. adolescents from 2021 through 2023, potentially contributing to a number of serious health risks.

The findings were published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine late last month, suggesting that more research is needed to fully understand the health effects of cannabis vaping on teens.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes marijuana’s intoxicating effects. It is found in marijuana, hashish and certain other cannabis-derived products.

THC is not present in cannabidiol, or CBD, another cannabis compound sometimes found in vape products. While CBD is generally considered safe, with some risk of side effects and drug interactions, THC has been linked to a range of acute and long-term health issues. These include an increased risk of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as potential lung damage and cardiovascular problems.

In recent years, vape manufacturers have started extracting more concentrated forms of THC, such as delta-9, and producing synthetic cannabinoids. These synthetic compounds are often considered especially dangerous due to their high potency and unpredictable effects.

In the new study, a team of Australian researchers analyzed data from the National Youth Tobacco Surveys conducted during the years from 2021 through 2023, which included responses from 69,899 U.S. students ages 11 through 18.

The research team, led by Jack Chung, BApsych (Hons), estimated rates of delta-9 THC, CBD and synthetic cannabinoid use by age, sex and survey year.

Chung found that vaping of all three substances increased significantly during the study period, with rates of delta-9 and synthetic cannabinoid use doubling among youths aged 11 to 13. The data also showed that more girls than boys reported vaping each of the cannabis-based products.

“This study reveals that vaping of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and synthetic cannabinoids has increased among U.S. adolescents from 2021 to 2023. Further research is essential to understand the nature of adolescent cannabis vaping and its implications on youth health.”

-Jack Chung, BApsych (Hons), Adolescent Cannabis Vaping Trends (2021–2023)

Health Risks of Vaping Cannabis

A separate study published by French researchers in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) this past May, also linked cannabis vaping to a number of serious heart problems.

In that study, Wilhelm Storck of the University of Toulouse in France led a review of 24 articles published between 2016 and 2023, which showed a positive link between cannabis use and major cardiac events, including heart attacks and strokes.

These cardiovascular risks are distinct from earlier concerns tied to e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI), a life-threatening respiratory condition tied to THC vape products.

EVALI was originally associated with e-cigarette products containing THC and vitamin E acetate, an additive often used to dilute THC oil, which federal officials confirmed had resulted in more than 50 fatalities nationwide, while leaving thousands of others hospitalized with life-threatening lung injuries.

However, a study published late last year, noted that, more than five years after it was first diagnosed, no definitive cause for EVALI has been confirmed.

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