Most people who use THCO, a semisynthetic cannabinoid derived from hemp, vape it (74.9%), while about a quarter dab it (24.3%) and tend to use higher temperatures than those who vape. A small portion of users (12.0%) expressed concerns about the risk of ketene gas, which can form when THCO is heated and is harmful to the lungs. Because multiple factors influence ketene formation and consumer temperature choices may enable it, more research is needed to understand the harm profile of hemp-derived substances like THCO.
Vaporized cannabis e-liquid produces stronger effects and higher blood THC levels when mixed with polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG) rather than propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin (PG/VG). In mice, the highest dose tested caused body temperature drops, pain relief, and reduced movement. Adolescents were less sensitive than adults to the movement-suppressing effects, possibly due to lower circulating THC. No sex differences appeared in behavioral responses, but female mice showed slower THC metabolism than males, suggesting sex differences in how cannabis is broken down.