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Public Education Materials
The documents, videos and audio files below are available to download, print or order for more information on marijuana use.
Fact Sheet
Fact sheets older than 25 months can be found on the State of Alaska Library Archives website.
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National Resources
Public Health Resources
Is Marijuana Safe? FAQs
Is smoking marijuana safe?
Heavy marijuana smoking (daily or near daily) is
strongly associated with chronic bronchitis, including chronic cough,
sputum production, and wheezing.[1] Marijuana smoke, both firsthand and
secondhand, contains many of the same cancer-causing chemicals as
tobacco smoke.[1] It is not yet clear whether marijuana smoke is as
dangerous to people’s health as tobacco smoke.
Is vaping or vaporizing safer than smoking marijuana?
Vaping devices heat marijuana to a temperature that
releases the active compounds by creating an aerosol or “vapor” without
burning the plant material. Some vape pens (i.e., e-cigarettes) heat up
concentrated cannabis oil or wax, which can deliver much higher doses of
THC than smoking dry plant material. Vaping-Associated Pulmonary
Illness Outbreak: On December 3, 2019, Alaska announced its first case of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). At this time, no other cases have been identified in the state. For more information regarding EVALI please visit the Section of Epidemiology page.
Is smoking marijuana through a water pipe or bong safer than smoking without a filter?
When using a water pipe or bong, the smoke goes through
water before a person inhales. Recent research suggests that the water
filters out THC, the chemical in marijuana that makes a person feel
high. The limited research shows that the water is better at filtering
out THC than potentially harmful tars.[3] This may mean a smoker using a
bong may inhale more harmful tars to get the same dose of THC as
someone smoking a joint. More research is needed to understand the
health risks associated with smoking marijuana through a water pipe.[1]
Is it safe to eat or drink marijuana-infused products?
Though smoking marijuana has the added risk of harmful
smoke exposure, eating or drinking marijuana still exposes the user to
THC, the chemical that makes the user feel high.
The effects of
marijuana peak just minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke or aerosol.
However, the effects can peak up to four hours after eating or drinking
edibles that contain THC. This delayed effect can make it hard for the
user to know how much they should take. For new users, smoking, eating
or drinking even one, 5 milligram serving of marijuana is likely to
cause impairment. This affects the user’s ability to drive, bike, or
perform other safety-sensitive activities.[1] THC can affect people
differently, so the user needs to be aware of the amount consumed and
its impairing effects.
Also, the effects from eating or drinking
marijuana can last up to 10 hours. This means that someone can be
impaired for a long time after eating or drinking marijuana.[1] Wait at
least eight hours after eating or drinking less than 18 milligrams of
THC before driving, biking or performing other safety-sensitive
activities. If you have consumed more than 18mg of THC, wait longer than
eight hours.[1]
What happens if you consume alcohol and marijuana at the same time?
Using alcohol and marijuana at the same time may result
in greater impairment than either one alone.[1] Do not drive, bike, or
perform any other safety-sensitive activities after using any form of
marijuana (with or without alcohol).
Is using hash oil (dabbing) safe?
Hash oil can have up to 80% THC concentration.
Consuming this highly concentrated form of THC increases the risk of an
unpredictable high and negative physical and emotional reactions. Since dabbing only became more common recently, the associated health risks have not been well studied.
Are synthetic marijuana substances the same as marijuana?
No. Synthetic marijuana substances, sold under names
like “spice” or “K2,” are not the same as marijuana. Synthetic marijuana
may cause elevated heart rates and blood pressure, drowsiness,
agitation, hallucinations, seizures, tremors (shaking), vomiting,
paranoia, loss of physical control, and comas.
Has the potency of marijuana changed over the years?
Yes. Today, some marijuana products are significantly
more potent than the marijuana of the past. Be aware of the THC
concentration you are using to avoid accidentally consuming too much.
Is marijuana addictive?
Marijuana use can, in some cases, lead to addiction.
This means that a person can’t easily control or stop marijuana use even
though it interferes with their daily life. Youth who begin using
marijuana regularly are more likely to become addicted than those who
wait until adulthood to use. Find more information about heavy cannabis use and potential for addiction.
Media Inquires
For media inquiries, please contact the Department of Health and Social Services Public Information Team.
Inquiries about the Medical Marijuana Registry
For medical marijuana registry inquiries, please contact BVSResearch@alaska.gov.
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References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens.
- Gieringer, D. (2000). Marijuana Water Pipe and Vaporizer Study. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.
- CBS Denver: Vets Seeing More Dogs Eating Edible Marijuana.
- Asbridge, M. et al. (2012). Acute cannabis consumption and motor vehicle collision risk: systematic review of observational studies and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal.
- Sontineni, S. P. et al. (2009). Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: Clinical diagnosis of an underrecognised manifestation of chronic cannabis abuse. World Journal of Gastroenterology.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Policy statement in Pediatrics 2012, Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Common resources include the Drug Facts: Marijuana, Marijuana Research Report, and the Drug Facts: Is Marijuana Medicine?.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
- 2017 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
- Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Emergency Regulations, February 24, 2015.
- Volkov ND, et al. Adverse health effects of marijuana use. N Engl J Med 2014; 370:2219-27.
- https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/9/pub/MCB/StatutesAndRegulations/3AAC306.pdf
- https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week/drug-facts-chat-day-marijuana
- https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/conditions/acute-marijuana-intoxication/
- http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/poison-control-hotlines-to-contact-if-you-suspect-pet-poisoning/
- http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/marijuana-and-dogs-and-cats-a-risky-combination?page=2
- National Institute of Drug Abuse. What are marijuana’s long-term effects on the brain? 2019; https://www.drugabuse.gov/ publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuanas-long-term-effects-brain.
- Partnership for a Drug-Free Kids: http://www.drugfree.org/ (accessed June 2015).
- Volkow, ND, et al. Adverse health effects of marijuana use. N. Engl. J. Med. 2014 Jun; 370:2219-2227.
- Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2012;109(40):E2657–64.
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The State of Alaska acknowledges the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for sharing their content and allowing it to be used on www.marijuana.dhss.alaska.gov.
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