Vaping

Vaping is inhaling an aerosol produced by heating a liquid or extract in a battery-powered device rather than burning plant material.

A vape device uses a heating coil to vaporize a cartridge or tank of liquid, which may contain nicotine, flavorings, cannabis extract or hemp-derived cannabinoids. Inhalation delivers compounds through the lungs directly into the bloodstream, so onset is fast and first-pass metabolism in the liver is bypassed, but the effect also fades sooner than with oral formats. Cannabinoid vape products vary widely in solvent, carrier and additive content, and additives such as vitamin E acetate were linked to an outbreak of serious lung injury in the United States.

Regulators handle vaping products separately from other formats: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authority over e-cigarettes and has not approved any cannabinoid for inhalation. Long-term safety of vaping any substance is not established, and quality testing for inhalable products differs from testing for edibles or topicals.