Smoking marijuana may be worse for your lungs than smoking tobacco, a new study suggests
- Researchers link marijuana smoking to a higher risk of emphysema, an irreversible condition in which the lungs’ air sacs are damaged and eventually rupture
- Marijuana smokers typically inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, potentially exposing them to more toxins per breath
Smoking marijuana may do more damage to lungs than cigarettes, a new study suggests.
The study, published in the journal Radiology, found marijuana may be linked to an increased risk of emphysema over smoking tobacco alone.
The results come as states in the United States continue to legalise the drug and health experts, who are increasingly concerned about its impact on lung health, call for more research. (In Hong Kong, marijuana, also known as cannabis, is outlawed. Anyone convicted of trafficking in this substance, labelled a dangerous drug, faces up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$5 million [US$639,000].)
“It’s no surprise to me,” said Dr David Kaminsky, a pulmonologist and professor of medicine at the University of Vermont, who is unaffiliated with the study. “A burning leaf is a burning leaf … the lung doesn’t know the difference if it’s tobacco or marijuana.”
