Hi Dr. Caplan! First off, I love your Green Table Talk Podcast—it’s been such a helpful resource! I’ve been experimenting with cannabis tinctures for a while and make my own using concentrates, decarbing, and mixing them with MCT oil or olive oil. Recently, I’ve been curious about trying a nebulizer for cannabis delivery.
Is it possible to use my homemade tincture with a nebulizer if I dilute it with something like Everclear or saline? I’m not sure how the oil would interact with the nebulizer or if it’s even safe to inhale this way. Could you shed some light on the safety and practicality of this idea? Thank you so much!
Thank you for your thoughtful question and for being a listener of the podcast—your curiosity and hands-on approach to cannabis use are great to see -so inspiring! It’s happy to hear you’re testing out nebulization, as it’s definitely a cutting-edge area of cannabis medicine. That said, there are a few key considerations and safety points to keep in mind.
Nebulizers are designed to deliver saline (water)-based solutions directly to the lungs in the form of a fine mist. This is excellent for delivering medications like saline or water-soluble compounds, but cannabis tinctures, especially oil-based ones, present a unique challenge. Here’s why:
1.Oil and Lungs Don’t Mix Well:
Cannabinoids and terpenes in your tincture are fat-soluble and oil-based by nature. Nebulizing oils, even in tiny amounts, can carry a risk of lipoid pneumonia. This condition occurs when oil particles settle in the lungs, leading to inflammation and respiratory issues. While cannabis oil molecules tend to be heavy and less likely to penetrate deeply into the lungs, this is still a concern we cannot ignore, especially with homemade formulations.
2.Everclear as a Solvent:
Diluting your tincture with Everclear (a high-proof alcohol) might seem like a creative workaround, but it’s not as straightforward as it sounds. Alcohol can help break down cannabinoids for use in edible tinctures, but for nebulization, the alcohol would need to evaporate completely before inhalation. This introduces a tricky timing element and raises concerns about residue or potential irritation to the respiratory system.
3.Water-Soluble Cannabis:
For nebulizer use, water-soluble cannabis formulations are the safest option, although not always so easy to find. These products would be better for inhalation, ensuring that no oils or harmful residues enter your lungs, but there are so far none that are specifically designed for this purpose (yet!) While these products are not yet widely available, they represent what would probably be the gold standard for safely exploring this method of delivery.
Analogy:
Think of it this way: Nebulizing cannabis is like making tea versus frying food. Your lungs are like the delicate teapot—they handle steam (water-based solutions) beautifully but can’t handle splattering oil. Trying to use oil in a nebulizer is like putting cooking oil in your teapot—it just doesn’t fit the tool’s purpose and could damage the teapot (or in this case, your lungs).
For more on this topic, check out my Substack article on nebulization here: Link
Thank you for your thoughtful question! It’s people like you—curious, resourceful, and health-conscious—who help push cannabis medicine forward. Keep experimenting, but always prioritize safety. Let me know how your journey evolves!
Warmly,
Dr. Caplan
