EDIT: WOW, just realized how old this thread is
thecragus is digging deep!
jx80 said:
I have heard ingesting herb causes a build up in the liver ... or was it kidney roll Build up of what hmm Bloody urban myths.
Most drugs, including most cannabinoids are metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450. As this enzyme is degraded there can be some liver toxicity. This is the case with morphine or marijuana. It's mostly about concentration. IMO you usually won't get to these levels with normal oral administration. Now if your eating 10g a day...that's a different story. So I wouldn't get to hung up on it. In addition, CBD has been shown to inhibit the metabolism of THC and CBN, so its more complicated than it seems.
Oral administration is also more likely to cause nausea or vomiting (Grinspoon, 1969). This may be due to the plant matter itself and not the delta-9-THC as reports have varied depending on methodology. Thus it is not recommended that you ingest the plant matter as is because of the potential stomach discomfort as well as potential decreases in potency and efficacy when compared to other routes of administration (McKim, 2000). However, no current studies have shown any negative GI effects from cannabinoids themselves. Therefore maybe injesting an Everclear extraction is the best possible solution for everyday people?
However, it should be noted that respiratory harm has been called the only well-confirmed deleterious physical effect of marijuana by Dr. Lester Grinspoon (Grinspoon, 1997).
Grinspoon, L. (1969). Marihuana. Sci Am, 221(6), 17-25.
Grinspoon, L. (1997). Marijuana, the forbidden mediine. (Revised Edition ed.). New Haven: Yale University Press.
McKim, W. A. (2000). Drugs and Behavior (4th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
As far as overall safety, some of the studies have already been cited, but summaries are always nice. This is part of an article I wrote a while back (TreeCity Research & Development, 2010):
In 1978, Mr. J. P. Ray applied for a U.S. Patent on a new invention that claimed to be a smokeless tobacco delivery system. This device could generate nicotine vapors from tobacco leaves by heating it to a temperature below the point of combustion but above the vaporization point for nicotine. Referred to as vaporization or volatilization, this device would deliver the active cannabinoids without any toxicity or byproducts. This concept works exactly the same for marijuana and its active cannabinoids compounds. Vaporizers heat cannabis to release active cannabinoids, but remain cool enough to avoid the smoke and toxins associated with combustion.
Many recent studies have shown that vaporization may reduce the overall byproducts and harm associated with combustion (Fischedick, Van Der Kooy, & Verpoorte, 2010; Pomahacova, Van der Kooy, & Verpoorte, 2009; Van Dam & Earleywine, 2010; Wilson et al., 2002). Using a Volcano vaporizing device, Abrams et al. (2007) showed reduced carbon monoxide (CO) delivery with equal THC concentrations when compared to normal combustion (Abrams et al., 2007). Others have shown significant differences in the cannabinoid to byproducts ratio in the vapor when compared to smoking (Pomahacova, et al., 2009). In other words, there was a significant decrease in the toxins while the THC/cannabinoids levels that reach the body were not changed. Earleywine & Barnwell (2007) revealed that the impact of a vaporizer was larger as the amount of cannabis used increased (Earleywine & Barnwell, 2007).
These data suggest that the safety of cannabis can increase dramatically with the use of a vaporizer. In addition, the data show that the more medication you inhale, the greater the benefit you will have from using a vaporizer compared to combustion methods. Patients who regularly use joints, blunts, pipes, and bongs to medicate might decrease unwanted respiratory symptoms by switching to a vaporizer (Earleywine & Barnwell, 2007).
Abrams, D. I., Vizoso, H. P., Shade, S. B., Jay, C., Kelly, M. E., & Benowitz, N. L. (2007). Vaporization as a smokeless cannabis delivery system: a pilot study. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 82(5), 572-578.
Earleywine, M., & Barnwell, S. S. (2007). Decreased respiratory symptoms in cannabis users who vaporize. Harm Reduct J, 4, 11.
Fischedick, J., Van Der Kooy, F., & Verpoorte, R. (2010). Cannabinoid receptor 1 binding activity and quantitative analysis of Cannabis sativa L. smoke and vapor. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 58(2), 201-207.
Pomahacova, B., Van der Kooy, F., & Verpoorte, R. (2009). Cannabis smoke condensate III: the cannabinoid content of vaporised Cannabis sativa. Inhal Toxicol, 21(13), 1108-1112.
Van Dam, N. T., & Earleywine, M. (2010). Pulmonary function in cannabis users: Support for a clinical trial of the vaporizer. Int J Drug Policy, 21(6), 511-513.
Wilson, D. M., Peart, J., Martin, B. R., Bridgen, D. T., Byron, P. R., & Lichtman, A. H. (2002). Physiochemical and pharmacological characterization of a Delta(9)-THC aerosol generated by a metered dose inhaler. Drug Alcohol Depend, 67(3), 259-267.
Just one researcher's humble conclusions...