Current Events > American Lung Association connects marijuana to chronic bronchitis and lung...

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health risks.

The American Lung Association is concerned about the health impacts of marijuana use, especially on lung health. We caution the public against smoking marijuana because of the risks it poses to lung health.

Scientists are researching marijuana now, and the American Lung Association encourages continued research into the effects of marijuana use on lung health.

Marijuana
The health effects of marijuana are determined in large part by how it's consumed. Marijuana is most commonly smoked using pipes, bongs, paper-wrapped joints, blunts and other devices including those that heat or vaporize marijuana. Marijuana can also be consumed through dozens of different products including candy, brownies capsules, beverages and many more.

While this statement focuses on marijuana and lung health, it's important to note that there are other health concerns outside the lungs attributed to marijuana use that are not addressed here, including neurological and cognitive effects.1,2

Additionally, there are significant public health concerns associated with pediatric poisonings caused by accidental ingestion of edible marijuana products.3

Marijuana Smoke
Smoke is harmful to lung health. Whether from burning wood, tobacco or marijuana, toxins and carcinogens are released from the combustion of materials. Smoke from marijuana combustion has been shown to contain many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.4-7

Beyond just what's in the smoke alone, marijuana is typically smoked differently than tobacco. Marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, which leads to a greater exposure per breath to tar.8

Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in directly inhaled marijuana smoke, in similar amounts if not more.5 While there is no data on the health consequences of breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, there is concern that it could cause harmful health effects, especially among vulnerable children in the home. Additional research on the health effects of secondhand marijuana smoke is needed.

Lung Health and Marijuana Smoke
Smoking marijuana clearly damages the human lung. Research shows that smoking marijuana causes chronic bronchitis and marijuana smoke has been shown to injure the cell linings of the large airways, which could explain why smoking marijuana leads to symptoms such as chronic cough, phlegm production, wheeze and acute bronchitis.4,9

Smoking marijuana has also been linked to cases of air pockets in between both lungs and between the lungs and the chest wall, as well as large air bubbles in the lungs among young to middle-aged adults, mostly heavy smokers of marijuana. However, it's not possible to establish whether these occur more frequently among marijuana smokers than the general population.4

Smoking marijuana can harm more than just the lungs and respiratory system - it can also affect the immune system and the body's ability to fight disease, especially for those whose immune systems are already weakened from immunosuppressive drugs or diseases, such as HIV infection.4,9

Smoking marijuana hurts the lungs' first line of defense against infection by killing cells that help remove dust and germs as well as causing more mucus to be formed. In addition, it also suppresses the immune system. These effects could lead to an increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections among marijuana smokers, although there is no clear evidence of such actual infections being more common among marijuana smokers.4,9 However, frequent marijuana-only smokers have more healthcare visits for respiratory conditions compared to nonsmokers.10

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Studies have shown that smoking marijuana may increase the risk of opportunistic infections among those who are HIV positive, although it does not seem to affect the development of AIDS or lower white cell counts.4,9

Another potential threat to those with weakened immune systems is Aspergillus, a mold that can cause lung disorders. It can grow on marijuana, which if then smoked exposes the lungs to this fungus.4 However, it rarely causes problems in people with healthy immune systems.

Medical Marijuana
The American Lung Association encourages continued research into the health effects of marijuana use, as the benefits, risks and safety of marijuana use for medical purposes require further study. Patients considering using marijuana for medicinal purposes should make this decision in consultation with their doctor, and consider means of administration other than smoking.

Bottom Line
Smoking marijuana clearly damages the human lung, and regular use leads to chronic bronchitis and can cause an immune-compromised person to be more susceptible to lung infections. No one should be exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke. Due to the risks it poses to lung health, the American Lung Association strongly cautions the public against smoking marijuana as well as tobacco products. More research is needed into the effects of marijuana on health, especially lung health.

http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/marijuana-and-lung-health.html

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Inhaling smoke can't be good for your lungs in any case, so this isn't that surprising
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Funny, you breath in smoke of some kind and it affects your lungs?

More impressive news at 11!

I don't get why it's news. We've known that smoke inhalation of any kind, done enough, causes damage.
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ban weed so people stop injecting it into their lungs
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This is why I only use edibles.

everyone knew this already
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Edibles or gtfo
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Shit, better ban cigarettes then
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Perfect! I know the danger and its my choice, god bless America.
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next you're gonna tell me donald trump is a bad president
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

I don't get why it's news. We've known that smoke inhalation of any kind, done enough, causes damage.

You'd be surprised. There is a subset of the MJ community that absolutely buries their head in the sand when it comes to risks/benefits of weed.

They perceive it to be a total panacea that cures everything from pain, to anxiety, and cancer.

FDA recently approved CBD oil derivatives in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in pediatric populations. Marijuana has been a decent adjuvant treatment for people in chemo as an anti-emetic and helping with appetite. No one doubts certain uses as beneficial, but proponents can have a tendency of assuming a single negative word against their wonder drug as a reflection of the ridiculous propaganda of the Nixon era.
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thronedfire2 posted...

everyone knew this already

There's people who believe smoking marijuana is 100% harmless. Some are on this board, too.
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thronedfire2 posted...

everyone knew this already

Nope. Pot culture has been claiming for years that smoking pot CURES this stuff.
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Sephiroth1288 posted...

Inhaling smoke can't be good for your lungs in any case, so this isn't that surprising

Yep. This isn't really about marijuana use as a whole lol
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darkjedilink posted...

Nope. Pot culture has been claiming for years that smoking pot CURES this stuff.

It's entirely possible that the systemic effects of marijuana can modulate the immune system that may be beneficial in other types of cancers. But still, inhaling a combustible compound is still physically damaging to the lung.

A lot of pot culture took the former finding to heart and extrapolated it to mean it couldn't contribute to lung cancer or COPD because lay people don't really have a great concept of cancer as a whole.
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*coughing chuckle*
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this is less an argument against marijuana and more one against smoking anything

vape it or eat it, or use something like a crazy multipiece water pipe to remove tar and particulates

As someone who is very much pro-legal weed; can I just say that anyone who genuinely thinks it's harmless and/or a miracle cure for everything is a fucking *gets banned*
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If only there was a way to eat it.

Oh wait...
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darkjedilink posted...

thronedfire2 posted...

everyone knew this already

Nope. Pot culture has been claiming for years that smoking pot CURES this stuff.

I've literally never seen someone say smoking anything is good for your lungs
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