Zaremba: Given the respiratory impact of COVID-19, what concerns do you have with respect to patients’ consumption?
Nathan: If we’re only going by evidence in the scientific literature, we have very little to go on in terms of what we would expect about the effect of smoking or vaping on either acquiring or getting worse from a COVID infection. That said, I think that the same principles that apply to cannabis consumption generally will also apply here — that vaping is in general a safer means of consumption than smoking because it’s less caustic on the throat and lungs.
The way to dispense with the whole question of whether vaping could be a problem is to consume edibles instead, but edibles have a very different half-life and onset of action for people who are consuming cannabis that way. It’s not exactly equivalent.
Vaporization of flower is generally safer than vaporization of concentrates, given that the latter has additives that may not have an established safety profile. Overall, non-inhalation methods are likely safer among those who continue consuming cannabis during the pandemic.