Are bongs/waterpipes counter-productive?

[beachguy in thongs]

Are Waterpipes Counterproductive?

The study results are obviously discomforting to waterpipe enthusiasts, many of whom prefer the cooler, milder smoke they produce, and have naturally assumed it is also more healthful. Unfortunately, however, the study indicates that waterpipes may actually be counterproductive in increasing consumption of carcinogenic tars.

Nonetheless, it is still premature to judge that waterpipes are actually unhealthful, since they may filter out other, non-solid smoke toxins occurring in the gas phase of the smoke, which was not analyzed in the study. Noxious gases known to occur in marijuana smoke include hydrogen cyanide, which incapacitates the lung's defensive cilia; volatile phenols, which contribute to the harshness of the taste; aldehydes, which promote cancer; and carbon monoxide, a known risk factor in heart disease. Previous studies indicate that water filtration may be quite effective in absorbing some of these [Nicholas Cozzi, Effects of Water Filtration on Marijuana Smoke: A Literature Review, MAPS Newsletter, Vol. IV #2, 1993]. If so, waterpipes might still turn out to have net health benefits.

MAPS and California NORML are planning to undertake a second phase of the waterpipe study for the purpose of analyzing the gaseous phase of marijuana smoke.

In the meantime, the easiest way for most smokers to avoid harmful smoke toxins may be simply to smoke stronger marijuana. This strategy is apt to be more effective than any smoke filtration device. By simply replacing the low, 2.3% potency NIDA marijuana used in this study with high-quality 12%-sinsemilla, smokers could presumably reduce their tar intake by a factor of five while still achieving the same effect. Further improvements could be had by using pure THC or hash oil, which has been tested at potencies of 60%.

The notion that high-potency marijuana is less harmful directly contradicts official government propaganda, which maintains that marijuana has become more dangerous since the '60s due to increased potency. This claim appears to rest less on scientific evidence than on the desire to frighten the public. A careful analysis of government data by Dr. John Morgan has shown that the supposed increase in potency has been greatly exaggerated [American Marijuana Potency: Data Versus Conventional Wisdom, NORML Reports (1994)]. In any case, however, there is no good reason to presume that higher potency marijuana is more harmful, given the potential respiratory benefits of reduced smoke consumption. The hazards of excessive potency are purported to be an increased risk of acute overdose and greater susceptibility to dependency. However, both problems can be avoided if users adjust their dosage to potency. For most users, such hazards may well be outweighed by the benefits of reduced smoke consumption.

http://www.maps.org/mmj/vaporizer.html

beachguy in thongs Reviewed by beachguy in thongs on 11-27-2005. Are bongs/waterpipes counter-productive? Are Waterpipes Counterproductive? The study results are obviously discomforting to waterpipe enthusiasts, many of whom prefer the cooler, milder smoke they produce, and have naturally assumed it is also more healthful. Unfortunately, however, the study indicates that waterpipes may actually be counterproductive in increasing consumption of carcinogenic tars. Nonetheless, it is still premature to judge that waterpipes are actually unhealthful, since they may filter out other, non-solid Rating: 5

[lateralus]

I've read NORML studies that have concluded that a loss of THC does occur in water pipes. I believe hookahs turned up the most THC loss. I was surprised to see that joints actually yielded less of a loss of cannabinoids than bongs.

Regardless, you can't argue the power of the sheer volume of smoke that you get from an ice bong hit. In my world and yours.

[heavymetal101]

BEACHGUY, you should look up something about vaporizers, there suppose to be the best way too smoke. And if so then people should promote them more. LOL Just a thought

[lateralus]

On the same token, I heard vaporizers also did surprisingly badly on the tests. I think it was on the same study. Not sure.

[Stoner Shadow Wolf]

I've read NORML studies that have concluded that a loss of THC does occur in water pipes. I believe hookahs turned up the most THC loss. I was surprised to see that joints actually yielded less of a loss of cannabinoids than bongs.

Regardless, you can't argue the power of the sheer volume of smoke that you get from an ice bong hit. In my world and yours.

how do you figure a joint would lose more cannabinoids than a bong? there's nothing to trap them, no water.


pipes and joints have to yield more than a bong, it's only logical.


and joints have paper added, so you're getting mroe than pot.


i like pipes and bongs

[lateralus]

how do you figure a joint would lose more cannabinoids than a bong? there's nothing to trap them, no water.


pipes and joints have to yield more than a bong, it's only logical.


and joints have paper added, so you're getting mroe than pot.


i like pipes and bongs

I don't figure that. I believed otherwise until I read the study.

Edit: Nevermind, I read it wrong. And so did you.

I said joints lose less THC. BUT, if you think about it, I don't see how it makes sense, since a joint is continually burning, and bongs tend to have less smoke escape the bowl.

[Stoner Shadow Wolf]

ok, so i guess i was thinking too logically? lol

[beachguy in thongs]

BEACHGUY, you should look up something about vaporizers, there suppose to be the best way too smoke. And if so then people should promote them more. LOL Just a thought

I've been posting shit about that all day.

HERE:

THC Transfer Rate

The MAPS-NORML study provides new information on the efficiency of different devices in delivering THC from marijuana to the user. Previous studies have shown that 60% - 80% of the THC burned in joints or waterpipes is lost in slipstream smoke, adhesion to the pipestem and bowl, pyrolysis, etc. [Mario Perez-Reyes, Marijuana Smoking: Factors that Influence the Bioavailability of Tetrahydrocannabinol, in C. Nora Chiang and Richard Hawks, ed., Research Findings on Smoking of Abused Substances, NIDA Research Monograph 99, 1990]. The percentage of total THC delivered to the user is called the THC transfer rate. The unfiltered joint scored surprisingly well in smoking efficiency, coming in second place with a transfer rate close to 20%. The portable waterpipe did slightly better, and the bong slightly worse. The other devices did notably worse. The vaporizers and electric waterpipe did especially poorly, with transfer rates less than one-third that of the top three devices. Thus, heavy smokers could literally be blowing most of their stash away with bad pipes.

[lateralus]

I said joints lose less THC. BUT, if you think about it, I don't see how it makes sense, since a joint is continually burning, and bongs tend to have less smoke escape the bowl.

Unless a bong really does lose that much THC. I've only met a couple people who insist that methods of smoke consumption other than bongs get them higher.

[beachguy in thongs]

On the same token, I heard vaporizers also did surprisingly badly on the tests. I think it was on the same study. Not sure.

Well, the study is here, again, now!!!

see above