Marijuana and your lungs
Dear Julius,
I've heard that if you smoke marijuana, you're putting yourself at a greater risk for lung cancer than if you smoke tobacco. Is that true? If so, how harmful is it?
No, it's not true. I say that tenatively, since there is a catch, which I'll explain in a second.
It's not true, in that if you smoke marijuana regularly, and even if you are a heavy user, you are at no increased risk for lung cancer. The University of California at Los Angeles recently concluded a rather large (1,200 people) study on marijuana's link to lung cancer. They found that marijuana use has no corellation to lung cancer.
Now that's not to say that there's nothing harmful produced by burning marijuana. There is. Burning marijuana releases many of the same harmful substances into your lungs that tobacco does (it actually contains up to 50% more of some these substances than tobacco) -- but it also releases THC. Currently, it is thought that THC can help kill cells before they become cancerous, thus negating the cancer-causing effects of those toxins.
But what about the catch? The study focused on marijuana use. Many people who smoke marijuana don't roll joints (or blunts, etc) of pure marijuana. Instead, many mix it with tobacco to help it burn smoother/slower, and to stretch their supply. Tobacco, as has been proven time and time again, is linked to lung cancer. So if you're smoking tobacco with your weed, all bets are off -- you likely are increasing your risk of lung cancer.
Bottom line: there is evidence that suggests that smoking marijuana does not cause lung cancer. Smoking it with tobacco likely does.
There is some evidence that regular inhalation of marijuana smoke is the cause of other pulmonary problems, but as of yet no studies have provided quantitative measurements of how much damage it causes. It is likely less harmful than tobacco, but regular smoking may lead to lung problems. Of course you don't have to smoke marijuana in the first place -- using a vaporizer or baking it into brownies provides you with more THC and fewer potential health risks.
If you liked that post, then try these...
Weed Mixers (or What do I mix with my pot?) on February 28th, 2008
The Strength of Marijuana on April 26th, 2007
The Strength of Dutch Weed on December 5th, 2007
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February 29th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I just wanted to add that the average smoker smokes about a pack a day(20 cigarettes). I've never known any one that smokes 20 bowls of weed a day. My point is that yes, if someone smokes 20 bowls a day they are probly going to get cancer, lung failure, or some shit. If there is some one out there doing this: Stop! dumb ass.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
This reply is to Eli's comment. Are you calling people who REQUIRE to smoke marijuana medically in large quantities dumbasses, or even anyone who just plain wnats to? It doesnt matter. There are people out there that need marijuana in amounts of up to 30+ to stop excruciating pain in their faces. (<3 jon dore show, I LOOKED IT UP ITS TRUE :)) But... thats just an example of many other afflications out there. But.. as for recreationally? THERE HAVE BEEN NO DIRECT DEATHS EVER CAUSED BY MARIJUANA IN THE HISTORY OF THE KNOWN WORLD. Look it up on a government statistic's website, it'll be there. So my advice to you... plainly, is to not feel the need to preach to people with ignorance backing you up. And yes, I smoke marijuana, i just quoted a dumb stoner show, but dont take your eyes off the message ;) Plain and simple, shut the fuck up, you ignorant "dumb ass".