E-cigarettes being used by teens to 'vape' marijuana, study finds

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E-cigarettes may not have tobacco and are unable to produce smoke but it still has nicotine-infused water that may cause individuals to be addicted to the substance. Furthermore, a new study has discovered that besides liquid nicotine, teens are now using e-cigarette vaporizers to inhale pot or marijuana, another highly addictive substance.

USA Today reports that about 27 percent of high school teens have reportedly used e-cigarette devices to help them "vape" liquid nicotine and cannabis. The study, which was conducted in Yale University, has discovered that most of these users are males and younger students.

Meghan Rabitt Morean, one of the co-authors of the study and an assistant professor at Oberlin College, explains that teens are resourceful and vaporizers can provide the perfect hiding place for the substances they inhale or use.

She adds that as almost everybody know how marijuana smells, it is unlikely to be used just about anywhere or by anyone. However, cannabis in vapor form is entirely different, thus giving kids nowadays the best way to conceal what they are doing without being apprehended or caught.

NBC News writes that the researchers have surveyed about 3,800 students from different high schools to validate their report. Surprisingly, about 30 percent have admitted to trying marijuana while 19 percent shared that they have both tried marijuana and e-cigarettes. Most students have declared using e-cigarettes with hash oil or wax plug, and portable vaporizers like G-pens with dried marijuana.

The researchers are concerned with the results of their survey, as they believe THC concentrations of hash oil and waxes that are vaporized can be three to four times higher that the content of dried marijuana. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that continuous use of marijuana can result to adverse medical problems like decreased sperm count, slow learning, lung damage and short-term memory loss.

Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, senior author of the study and associate professor of psychiatry from Yale University School of Medicine, explains that although their study can not represent the whole country, having only used students from one state, the results can further back-up that strict regulation is required for e-cigarettes, Philly writes.

However, Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, believes implementation of stricter rules will not help solve the problem. He shares that the e-cigarettes cartridges and tanks are specifically made for marijuana, not like the ones sold in vape shops. Possession of marijuana for minors is illegal in all 50 states so this is where the legal authorities should be focusing on, he continues.