In 2022, Gallup reported that 8% of Americans vaped or smoked e-cigarettes in the past week.

Vaping is often touted as safer than smoking, but the health risks are still unknown. Regulators have increased scrutiny on the e-cigarette industry to protect consumers from potentially toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. Portable handheld nebulizers offer a modern, heat-free, oil-free alternative to vaping for cannabinoid inhalation.

Health Risks of E-Cigarettes or Vaping

Tobacco smokers often switch to e-cigarettes in an attempt to quit smoking tobacco or minimize the damage of cigarettes. However, experts do not recommend switching to vaping for tobacco cessation as a healthier alternative because there is insufficient evidence to show that nicotine e-cigarettes help people quit smoking. Furthermore, the health risks of vaping can include exposure to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals, including carcinogens, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals.

Regulatory Scrutiny After the EVALI Outbreak

Public health officials have linked oil-based carriers to a severe lung condition called EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury. Symptoms of EVALI include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, vomiting, and fever.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2,807 people were hospitalized in the U.S. for EVALI as of February 18, 2020, with 68 confirmed deaths. Health officials identified vitamin E acetate, an additive in some tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing vaping products, as the primary cause of EVALI. However, the evidence is insufficient to rule out other chemicals in vaping products as potential contributors to the dangerous health condition.

As a result of the EVALI outbreak, the CDC recommended in 2019 that people do not use THC-containing vaping or e-cigarette products. Since vitamin E acetate has been removed from vaping products, emergency room visits related to vaping have declined.

Recent FDA Vaping Bans

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has increased regulatory scrutiny on the vape industry. In 2018, public health officials warned of an epidemic of teenagers becoming addicted to nicotine via flavored e-cigarettes. According to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, nearly 85% of middle and high school students who use e-cigarettes chose flavored products, like fruity and mint flavors.

In 2020, the FDA announced that retailers could legally sell most flavored vapes or cartridges. In June 2022, the FDA banned the largest U.S. vape manufacturer, JUUL Labs Inc., from selling and distributing their vaping products. The FDA cited insufficient evidence regarding its products’ safety and public health protection. In October 2022, the FDA issued marketing denial orders for menthol e-cigarette products that Logic Technology Development LLC sold, citing a failure to meet public health standards.

Portable Cannabinoid Nebulizers: A Safer Alternative to Vaping

Despite the ban on flavored e-cigarettes, the demand for vaping products remains robust. Many tobacco smokers switch to vaping in hopes of quitting. According to the CDC, 68% of tobacco smokers want to stop smoking, and more than half attempted to quit within the last year. However, experts do not recommend e-cigarettes for tobacco cessation due to unknown risks and a lack of evidence for effectiveness.

Inhaled cannabinoids are becoming popular among tobacco smokers seeking alternatives to nicotine vaping. Researchers are uncovering the potential benefits of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) for tobacco cessation. CBD has been shown in some studies to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Portable handheld nebulizers offer a modern solution for inhaled cannabinoid delivery without the risks and regulatory scrutiny of vaping. Inhaled delivery methods bypass first-pass metabolism, a metabolic process that results in reduced bioavailability of ingested cannabinoids. Cannabinoids in a water-based or saline-based delivery vehicle are nebulized into a medicated vapor for inhalation without heat, oil, combustion or smoke, allowing consumers to avoid the health risks of oil-based vaping carriers.

Takeaways on Portable Handheld Cannabinoid Nebulizers

Battery-operated portable nebulizers offer a safe, simple, and highly effective delivery method for rapid cannabinoid administration. The Nebi is rechargeable, with replaceable cartridges for treating many conditions. Water-based or saline-based delivery systems offer a modernized upgrade for safe and effective cannabinoid inhalation, requiring no heat or oil. Contact us here to find out more.