3. Results and discussion
3.1 Emerging trends in marijuana intake
techniques
The effects induced on users by cannabis once consumed are largely
dependent on the method of delivery. There exist three major cannabis
delivery techniques including inhalation, oral and topical, that has
been frequently applied in different occasions with each method having
various designed techniques that offer unique functions and
results.11 Smoking and vaporization are the most
prevalent ancient customary inhalation methods that are commonly used
and involves the use of hand pipes, water pipes, paper rolls (joints/
blunts), hooker and shisha (Table 1).12 On the other
hand, vaporization technique encompass the usage of vaporizers that
steadily heat up cannabis herbs to temperatures high enough to extract
THC, CBD and other cannabinoids but too low to expedite the release of
harmful toxins such as benzene and toluene as well as odor, which are
emitted thereby presumably, lowering the associated health risks
throughout marijuana smoking duration.13 This
technique is widely used and differs from traditional smoking given that
it does not involve combustion. For this reason therefore, vaporization
method is considered safer in that it minimizes exposure to the
potentially harmful marijuana smoke effluents that could be carcinogenic
and toxic to the health of both active and passive smokers. A range to
marijuana ingestion methods and their popularity is reported in Table 1.
Table 1 : Marijuana consumption techniques and popularity trends