Marijuana is used by nearly 20 million US residents a month, and according to a recent Pew Survey, legalization is favored by a (slim) majority of citizens. Further, Pew reports that pot is seen as less harmful than alcohol by over two-thirds of Americans—an opinion backed by a recent study, which determined alcohol is 114 times more deadly in terms of how much leads to a toxic dose.
But an often overlooked aspect of weed, aside from how potentially deadly THC, the active ingredient, may be, is the damage it might cause from smoke inhalation, especially in the form of lung cancer. This kind of cancer is very dangerous; the five-year survival rate is just over 17%, meaning 83% of those diagnosed do not survive in the long term.
However, like the risk of breast cancer from cell phones stored in bras, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not weed can cause lung cancer. As noted by the American Cancer Society, it’s difficult to study because of its illegality in many parts of the world, and because many marijuana smokers also smoke cigarettes—so it’s impossible to determine which one is the cause of any lung cancer that develops in those cases.
But, the anatomy of a joint is pretty concerning for many scientists. While tobacco and cannabis have different active ingredients (nicotine and THC), they both contain at least 6,000 of the same chemicals, many of which are known toxins, irritants, or carcinogens. Moreover, because the supply chain is often secret to escape the notice of law enforcement, it is impossible to know if a joint is pure.
Further, marijuana is often used differently; the smoke is breathed in more deeply and is usually held within the lungs much longer, meaning these substances have more time to be absorbed.
The upsides
First, while joints can be harmful to lung health, they are usually smoked less often than cigarettes—according to the American Cancer Society, studies found the average was 2-3 joints per month versus 10 cigarettes a day.
Additionally, a long-term study published this month of 408 males found that there was no link between marijuana and lung cancer. (Although studies in the past have been on both side of the fence, the length and size of this study makes the results promising.) The study also found no link between weed and depression, psychotic symptoms (like delusions and hallucinations), other cancers, asthma or respiratory problems, anxiety, allergies, headaches, or high blood pressure.
Lastly, weed doesn’t need to be smoked in order to receive the effects of THC—the lungs can be skipped altogether if one were to, say, create consumables.
Or in other words, if concerned, stoners might want to 420 bake it.
(Image credit: Thinkstock)
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