Another study shows there is no evidence that smoking cannabis leads to increased risk of emphysema and other lung problems like smoking tobacco does. According to a report from NORML, a leading advocacy organization fighting for decades for legalization, a study published by the journal Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, shows people who smoked tobacco had more damage to their hearts and lungs than those who smoked marijuana exclusively. Specifically, tobacco smokers were far more likely to demonstrate moderate to severe coronary artery calcifications and suffer from emphysema.
Harvard Medical School researchers compared chest CT scans of 285 subjects. Eighty-nine participants were non-smokers, 97 smoked tobacco, and 99 smoked marijuana. Participants who smoked tobacco exhibited greater damage to their hearts and lungs than did those who exclusively smoked marijuana. Specifically, tobacco smokers were far more likely to demonstrate moderate to severe coronary artery calcifications and suffer from emphysema.
“The findings of our study collectively highlight the distinct patterns of pulmonary and cardiovascular manifestations associated with smoking and marijuana use,” the study’s authors concluded, “It appears that marijuana users do not appear to develop emphysema or pulmonary hyperinflation. It appears that, in general, marijuana users do not appear to develop emphysema or pulmonary hyperinflation.”
For more details about this study on the NORML website click HERE.
The abstract of the study, “Quantitative and qualitative imaging in marijuana users and smokers,” is available from ScienceDirect. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Exposure and Lung Health.’
NORML’s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable.