Is there actually
good news for pot smokers? New research shows that while people who smoke cigarettes and marijuana increase their risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) almost threefold, smoking pot alone doesn’t seem to increase the risk of the deadly lung condition. The findings were published in the April 14 issue of the
Canadian Medical Association Journal.
That’s good news because COPD is a progressive condition with no cure. It’s characterized by diseased lungs and narrowed airways, and is most often caused by prolonged smoking, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
“Anti-smoking campaigns should include a reduction in marijuana use among their goals, aiming especially at those who smoke both marijuana and tobacco,” according to the study lead researcher Dr. Wan Tan, of the University of British Columbia and St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada.
Researchers concluded that the combined effect of tobacco and pot suggests that smoking marijuana — at least in relatively low doses — may act as a “primer” or sensitizer in the airways to amplify the adverse effects of tobacco smoke on respiratory health.
Pot is Still Dangerous
Pot smokers who don’t care for cigarettes shouldn't start celebrating just yet, though.
Dr. Norman H. Edelman, scientific consultant to the American Lung Association, said he thinks smoking marijuana probably does cause COPD, but this study did not include enough marijuana smokers to draw that conclusion.
Marijuana Rehab
If you or someone you love is battling a marijuana addiction, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
