A lot of kids, unfortunately, as you mentioned, have many misunderstandings about this. They think that if you don't smoke it and you just eat it or vaporize it, it will be safer. We know from studies on vaporization of various things that it is very difficult to control the heat level, which would mean that you are heating up....
Remember, when marijuana is combusted, when it's heated up, you are not consuming 500 components, but 2,000 components, most of which are unknown in terms of the effect on you. So it is definitely a risk and a gamble.
I think a lot of people think that vaporization is safer. In reality, it seems to be a way to disguise marijuana use, especially at school and with parents and others. We know that the THC concentrates can be much higher, and therefore more dangerous.