Have you ever taken a dab hit? If so, then you are not alone. Dab hits are becoming more and more popular everyday. I remember five years ago only the most dedicated marijuana fans on the West Coast and in Colorado were hip to the dab scene. Now I know people on the East Coast and all over the Midwest that can’t get enough dab hits to keep them satisfied.
One of the first questions people ask me when they have never taken a dab hit before is ‘are dab hits safe?’ It’s a question that was previously hard to answer because there wasn’t a solid scientific review out there. However, a recent scientific review was conducted by Mallory Loflin and Dr. Mitch Earleywine. Below is an overview of how they approached the study, and the conclusion:
Abstract
A new method for administering cannabinoids, called butane hash oil (“dabs”), is gaining popularity among marijuana users. Despite press reports that suggest that “dabbing” is riskier than smoking flower cannabis, no data address whether dabs users experience more problems from use than those who prefer flower cannabis.
Objective
The present study aimed to gather preliminary information on dabs users and test whether dabs use is associated with more problems than using flower cannabis.
Method
Participants (n = 357) reported on their history of cannabis use, their experience with hash oil and the process of “dabbing,” reasons for choosing “dabs” over other methods, and any problems related to both flower cannabis and butane hash oil.
Results
Analyses revealed that using “dabs” created no more problems or accidents than using flower cannabis. Participants did report that “dabs” led to higher tolerance and withdrawal (as defined by the participants), suggesting that the practice might be more likely to lead to symptoms of addiction or dependence.
Conclusions
The use of butane hash oil has spread outside of the medical marijuana community and users view it as significantly more dangerous than other forms of cannabis use.
