Have you ever wanted or tried to smoke cannabis underwater? This fun activity might seem far-fetched or part of a sci-fi scenario, but it raises interesting questions about combustion, air pressure, and how substances behave in different environments. While smoking underwater is not practically feasible in its traditional sense, the concept provides an opportunity to explore how cannabis consumption methods could be adapted for extreme environments, including underwater, in zero gravity, or even in space habitats.
What are the challenges of smoking cannabis underwater? Whar alternatives to smoking could wor? and how cannabis might be used in deep-sea environments like submarines or underwater research labs?
Why Traditional Smoking Doesn’t Work Underwater
The first hurdle to smoking underwater is the basic principle of combustion. For something to burn, it needs three key elements: fuel, heat, and oxygen. When smoking cannabis, the plant material (the fuel) is ignited with heat, typically using a lighter, in the presence of oxygen. The process of combustion releases smoke, which contains the THC and CBD cannabinoids that users inhale for their effects.
When trying to smoke cannabis underwater, however, you immediately run into two major problems:
Lack of Oxygen: The biggest issue is the absence of breathable air. Water displaces oxygen, and without a constant flow of oxygen, combustion can’t occur. Fire needs oxygen to burn, and underwater, you would need a specially controlled environment with a constant source of oxygen for the joint, pipe, or other smoking device.
Water Displacement: Even if oxygen were somehow present, water would quickly extinguish any flame. Whether you’re trying to light a cigarette, a match, or a joint, water immediately cools down the temperature and snuffs out the flame, making combustion impossible.
For this reason, traditional smoking methods (pipes, joints, bongs) are physically impossible underwater. But that doesn’t mean cannabis users who find themselves underwater are out of luck. Other methods of consuming cannabis might be more feasible.
The Role of Vaporizers: An Alternative?
While smoking cannabis underwater is not practical due to combustion issues, vaporizers, which use heat to vaporize cannabinoids rather than burning the plant, could theoretically be modified to function in an underwater environment. A vaporizer works by heating cannabis to a temperature below combustion, releasing the cannabinoids as vapor instead of smoke.
However, using a vaporizer underwater would still face the challenge of water displacement and maintaining a sealed air supply to keep the vapor from mixing with water. It’s important to note that vaporizers also rely on airflow to operate, and submerged vaporizers would need a continuous oxygen source to function properly. They might have more potential in pressurized underwater environments like submarines or research labs with controlled oxygen and air systems, but not for fully submerged scenarios.
Cannabis Use in Submarines and Underwater Research Facilities
Cannabis use in underwater research environments like submarines or deep-sea habitats presents a more feasible scenario than smoking directly underwater. Submarines and aquatic habitats are fully pressurized environments with controlled levels of oxygen, making them more akin to environments like space stations where oxygen is managed.
Inside these environments, it may be possible to vape cannabis or use other smokeless forms of cannabis, such as edibles or tinctures. The fact that submarines and research labs operate with highly controlled atmospheres means that any introduction of combustible materials (smoke) or particles needs to be handled with caution to avoid contaminating the air supply. Still, edibles, sublinguals, or even capsules would provide viable alternatives to smoking or vaping in such enclosed environments .
In many underwater environments, especially military submarines, smoking anything, including cigarettes, has long been banned for safety and health reasons. The U.S. Navy, for example, banned smoking on submarines to eliminate secondhand smoke and protect air quality. For these reasons, even if cannabis were legalized for use in submarines or aquatic habitats, non-smoking methods of consumption would likely be prioritized.
Alternative Cannabis Consumption Methods for Underwater Environments
While traditional smoking is impossible underwater, and vaping faces technical challenges, edibles and other forms of cannabis might offer practical alternatives. Here are a few methods that could work:
Edibles: Cannabis-infused food products, such as brownies, gummies, or chocolates, offer a smoke-free way to consume cannabis. Edibles are an excellent option for environments where combustion is either impossible or prohibited. They take longer to kick in (typically 30 minutes to 2 hours), but the effects last much longer than smoking or vaping.
Tinctures and Oils: Cannabis tinctures and oils, which are typically taken sublingually (under the tongue), are another feasible option. These liquids contain concentrated cannabinoids and can be easily transported and consumed in underwater environments without the need for any smoking device.
Transdermal Patches: Another non-invasive method is the use of transdermal cannabis patches, which deliver cannabinoids through the skin over an extended period of time. These are discreet and ideal for environments where air quality is a concern, as they don’t produce vapor or smoke.
Capsules: Pre-dosed cannabis capsules provide a simple, smoke-free way to consume cannabis. Capsules are portable, easy to store, and can be consumed without any need for combustion or vaporization, making them ideal for use in underwater labs or pressurized environments like submarines.
Can You Smoke Cannabis in Pressurized Aquatic Environments?
In environments like submarines or underwater research facilities, the possibility of consuming cannabis is higher, but smoking would likely still be impractical. As with space stations, these environments have strict air-quality controls, and introducing smoke could compromise not only the health of the crew but also the functioning of the environment’s life-support systems.
For example, in submarines, even cigarette smoking is banned because the recycled air system can be compromised by combustible particles. The same would likely apply to cannabis smoke. Vaporizers could potentially be used in these environments, but only with the right ventilation systems in place to ensure that any vapor or smoke is fully cleared from the air.
Safety Considerations Before Trying To Smoke Cannabis Underwater
Even if technology were to allow you to vape or smoke cannabis underwater, there would still be several safety concerns. First, the combustion of cannabis introduces not just cannabinoids but also particulate matter and carbon monoxide into the air, which could be dangerous in enclosed spaces. In environments where air is recycled—such as submarines or deep-sea research facilities—smoking could reduce the quality of air and put the crew at risk for respiratory issues .
Another consideration is the cognitive effects of THC in environments that require constant vigilance. Submarine crews and underwater researchers must maintain mental sharpness and focus, and the psychoactive effects of THC could impair their decision-making abilities, much like in space missions .
Conclusion
While it’s physically impossible to smoke cannabis underwater due to the lack of oxygen and water’s extinguishing properties, non-smoking methods of cannabis consumption—such as edibles, tinctures, and capsules—could be viable alternatives in certain underwater environments. Vaping might also be feasible in pressurized environments like submarines or underwater labs, but it would require careful consideration of air-quality controls.
For environments where mental clarity and vigilance are crucial, like submarines, the use of CBD or other non-psychoactive cannabis compounds might provide the best solution for stress relief and physical pain management, without the risk of cognitive impairment caused by THC. As technology and research into cannabis consumption methods evolve, we may see more innovative ways to integrate cannabis use into extreme environments like the deep sea or even outer space.
