Inhalation Toxicology, 2009; 21(13): 1108–1112 RESEARCH ARTICLE Cannabis smoke condensate III: e cannabinoid content of vaporised Cannabis sativa B. Pomahacova, F. Van der Kooy, and R. Verpoorte Division of Pharmacognosy, Section of Metabolomics, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, e Netherlands Address for Correspondence: F. Van der Kooy, Division of Pharmacognosy, Section of Metabolomics, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, 2300RA Leiden, e Netherlands. E-mail: f.vanderkooy@chem.leidenuniv.nl (Received 21 November 2008; revised 14 January 2009; accepted 14 January 2009) Introduction Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae) played an important role in various cultures for millenia. Renewed interest into cannabis in the last few decades balanced between excitement from all kinds of newly discovered pharmacologically desirable effects and fear from abuse and risky behavior in society. However, no matter what politicians and regulatory bod- ies decide or in future might decide, cannabis use has its place in the society (Reinarman et al., 2004). e proper use of cannabis as a medicine has recently become a matter of debate. e positive effects of cannabis use in treatment of multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, pain, etc. were recently reviewed (Smith, 2007; McCarberg, 2007; Engels et al., 2007). However, because of the limitations such as legislation and the method of administration, cannabis is today still generally better known as a recreational drug. Many patients also resort to unprescribed self-medication to treat their symptoms. e most popular way of administration in this case is smoking of cannabis cigarettes. Smoking is, however, not recommended because of the high number of undesired products produced during combustion of the plant material (Gieringer, 2001; Russo, 2003). ese toxic pyrolytic compounds are produced when the temperature in the plant material exceeds 200°C (Chemic, 2000; Gieringer, 2001), which happens during smoking. e ratio between the desired (cannabinoids) and undesired (carcinogenic) compounds in administered smoke of cannabis is hence grossly influenced by the temperature of vaporization or combustion. In several publications scientists are exploring smokeless inhalation devices, which can reduce the potential harm from smoking cannabis (Gieringer, 2004; Hazekamp, 2006; Abrams, 2007; Bloor et al., 2008). Vaporizing cannabis is a promising alternative to smok- ing cannabis. Vaporizing the plant material seems to have a number of advantages over smoking cannabis, including formation of a smaller quantity of toxic by-products and a more efficient extraction of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the cannabis material. With the use of the commercially available Volcano vaporizer the temperature of vaporization of the plant material can be controlled and combustion avoided. In a certain range of temperatures, the ISSN 0895-8378 print/ISSN 1091-7691 online © 2009 Informa UK Ltd DOI: 10.3109/08958370902748559 Abstract Cannabis sativa is a well-known recreational drug and, as such, a controlled substance of which possession and use are illegal in most countries of the world. Due to the legal constraints on the possession and use of C. sativa, relatively little research on the medicinal qualities of this plant has been conducted. Interest in the medicinal uses of this plant has, however, increased in the last decades. The methods of administration for medicinal purposes are mainly through oral ingestion, smoking, and nowadays also inhalation through vaporization. During this study the commercially available Volcano vaporizing device was compared with cannabis cigarette smoke. The can- nabis smoke and vapor (obtained at different temperatures) were quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, different quantities of cannabis material were also tested with the vaporizer. The cannabinoids:by-products ratio in the vapor obtained at 200°C and 230°C was significantly higher than in the cigarette smoke. The worst ratio of cannabinoids:by-products was obtained from the vaporized can- nabis sample at 170°C. Keywords: Cannabinoids; Cannabis sativa; tetrahydrocannabinol; vaporiser http://www.informahealthcare.com/iht