Cannabis Users See Similar Health Risks for Vaping and Smoking, With Some Exceptions | Research

The takeaway

Cannabis users perceived few differences in health risks between vaping and smoking cannabis, though younger users and women were more likely to prefer vaping for mental health benefits.

Public health communicators; dental professionals; cannabis harm reduction educators.

72.5% cited better pain management as top benefit of vaping cannabis

What the researchers found

Among 302 current cannabis users, the most commonly reported health benefit of vaping was better pain management (72.5%). Being habit-forming was the top perceived harm for both methods. Few significant differences emerged between perceived benefits and harms of vaping vs smoking, though younger users preferred vaping for stress reduction and women preferred it for mood improvement.

Why it matters

How people perceive the relative risks of different cannabis consumption methods influences their behavior. This study adds oral health perceptions, a largely unexplored area, to the conversation.

The numbers in context

302 survey respondents (93.2% completion rate). Pain management was top vaping benefit (72.5%). Researching cannabis health effects associated with recognizing cardiovascular risk (Phi=0.141) and cavity risk (Phi=0.15). Women preferred vaping for mood (p=0.016). Younger users preferred vaping for stress/anxiety/depression (p=0.03).

How the study worked

Online cross-sectional survey of 302 adults who used cannabis in the past month, recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Assessed perceptions of general and oral health benefits and harms of vaping vs smoking cannabis.

What this study cannot tell us

Convenience sample via MTurk may not represent all cannabis users. Cross-sectional design. Self-reported perceptions, not actual health outcomes. Small effect sizes for significant findings.

How to read the evidence

Convenience sample survey measuring perceptions, not actual health outcomes.

When this study was published

2025 study

The bigger picture

The finding that most users see little difference between vaping and smoking cannabis contradicts public health messaging that distinguishes them. It suggests more targeted education may be needed.

Questions still open

Are users correct that vaping and smoking cannabis carry similar risks? How would exposure to evidence-based information change these perceptions? What oral health effects of cannabis are most important to communicate?

Common questions

Is vaping cannabis actually safer than smoking it?

This study measured perceptions, not actual health outcomes. Some research suggests vaping may reduce respiratory irritation compared to smoking, but long-term comparative data remains limited.

What oral health concerns did users recognize?

Users who had researched cannabis health effects were more likely to recognize the risk of cavities (tooth decay), though overall awareness of oral health impacts was limited.

Read the original research

Cannabis User Perceptions: General and Oral Health Benefits and Harms of Vaping Versus Smoking.

Substance use & misuse, 60(8), 1157-1163

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Fisher, Jennifer M; Boyd, Linda D; Vineyard, Jared. (2025). Cannabis User Perceptions: General and Oral Health Benefits and Harms of Vaping Versus Smoking.. Substance use & misuse, 60(8), 1157-1163. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2491766