Vaporization of Cannabis

Smoking is not the only form of inhalation. Instead of combustion of the plant material at around 445 F, the cannabinoid-laden trichomes and aromatic oils (terpenes) can be "boiled off" at lower temperatures - at around 365 F (CANORML/MAPSVaporizor Study).

Faculty Presentations on Vaporizing Cannabis

An early proponent of vaporization was Dr. Tod Mikuriya, founder of the California Medical Marijuana Research Group, who presented the benefits thereof at our First National Clinical conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, held in Iowa City, IA in April, 2000. Video - Vaporizers & Medical Cannabis in CA, with Tod Mikuriya, MD

Beginning with a history of medical marijuana in Canada, Dr. Mark Ware, associate medical director at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, discusses methods of using Cannabis - concluding that pipes and vaporizers are superior to "joints". Presented to the Third Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, Portland, Oregon in May 0f 2002. Video - Medical Cannabis in Canada - Chronic Pain Trial by Mark Ware, MD

Suggested Reading:

Abrams, D. I., Vizoso, H. P., Shade, S. B., Jay, C., Kelly, M. E., & Benowitz, N. L. (2007). Vaporization as a smokeless cannabis delivery system: a pilot study. Clin Pharmacol Ther.

Gieringer, D., St. Laurent, J., & Goodrich, S. (2004). Cannabis vaporizer combines efficient delivery of THC with effective suppression of pyrolytic compounds. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, 4(1), 7-27.

Hazekamp, A., Ruhaak, R., Zuurman, L., van Gerven, J., & Verpoorte, R. (2006). Evaluation of a vaporizing device (Volcano) for the pulmonary administration of tetrahydrocannabinol. J Pharm Sci, 95(6), 1308-1317.