Warning On Teens Vaping Marijuana: From Marin Co. Sheriff

MARIN COUNTY, CA – The followings is a message for the community from your Marin County Major Crimes Task Force:

"There is a trend among the younger generation that deals not only with vaping, but vaping marijuana. As more teens vape, both parents and schools have struggled to keep the practice in check.

"Just as with tobacco, students can vape right under a parent’s or teacher's nose and go undetected. There is very little odor, and the handheld devices used are small enough that a teen can vape at home or even in class.

"Compounding the trouble is the potency the devices can deliver, giving a teen a much more intense high than expected. Often now, vaping cartridges contain anywhere from 75 percent to 80 percent THC. THC levels in plant marijuana generally range from 15 percent to 24 percent, so you can imagine the 'high' one gets is intensified when using vape cartridges.

"Vaping devices most often burn liquid using a battery-powered igniter in a self-contained chamber that resembles a pen or USB flash drive. The aerosol inhaled and exhaled is not smoke but resembles water vapor. There are vaping devices made specifically for THC cartridges. Some common e-cigarettes also can be modified to vape THC instead of tobacco.

"It is crucial that parents, teachers, and students all need to be aware of the risks of vaping, especially when it comes to vaping THC."

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