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> Regarding the health aspects of marijuana, we of course lack the wealth of knowledge that we now have on the detrimental effects of tobacco on pulmonary funct

> Regarding the health aspects of marijuana, we of course lack the wealth of knowledge that we now have on the detrimental effects of tobacco on pulmonary function and lung cancer risk. Knowledge is potentially unbounded, but I wouldn't say we "lack" anything. Marijuana is probably the single most well-studied substance on the planet. Most FDA-approved drugs have gone through only a fraction of the level of study and testing that marijuana has. > The experts with whom I have discussed this (a few pulmonologists) usually ask about marijuana smoke in the same breath as tobacco smoke, and consider it a probable carcinogen. I've done a lot of research on this topic; unfortunately it's on another hard drive at the moment, but thankfully it's a very easy topic to research yourself. Marijuana itself is not carcinogenic - in fact, it has cancer-fighting properties in some cases, and could be used as an aid in treating cancer directly, not just symptomatically. Consuming marijuana in edible or vapor form possesses no risk of cancer. Interestingly, there have been a number of studies on heavy marijuana users (who smoke marijuana), and by and large, they have failed to conclude that even moderately heavy use of (smoked) marijuana can be linked to lung cancer. This phenomenon is well-known enough that it has spawned its own set of associated explanatory theories, and studies investigating those. Obligatory XKCD disclaimer: https://xkcd.com/882/ https://xkcd.com/882/

carbocation 13y ago
> Consuming marijuana in edible or vapor form possesses no risk of cancer. I would like to see a citation of a study that is powered to detect population-level effects which demonstrates that claim. As an aside, I'd also like to see solid data on vapor form tobacco. There is not a definitive study at this point to demonstrate safety or clearly delineate the risk. It would be nice the be able to give meaningful guidance to patients on the topic of marijuana and tobacco, but right now I believe the most accurate and responsible thing to say is "I don't know."
- lugg 13y ago
  I've been in the vapor scene for a while, I'm starting to hear a few horror stories about liquid build up in the lungs. My guess is over use but its something to watch for. Regarding pot not causing lung cancer I can't really argue, emphasima on the other hand is a very real thing. While this is anecdotal, my mother is a nurse in a country town where there are a lot of weed only life long smokers and most of the old boys are starting to show up in hospital with emphasima. My understanding was that there is about 10 cigarettes worth of tar in a similarly sized joint. I have heard the old wives story about weed doesn't cause cancer many times. Never have I found any study pertaining to it. Or have I been shown any proof. The idea that there is no carcinogens created from burning plant material of any kind is laughable to me. The amount is questionable only maybe. As from personal experience, heavy daily usage is certainly detrimental to health and breathing capacity. There is a lot of misinformation out there take my views and others with a grain of salt. Disclosure, ive always been a staunch legalisation supporter. Never been a fan of decriminalization. Edit, and no I dont smoke anymore.
  - tsotha 13y ago
    >My understanding was that there is about 10 cigarettes worth of tar in a similarly sized joint. That may be true, but how much does your average pot smoker actually smoke in a day? My dad was a two-pack-a-day cigarette smoker, which is forty cigarettes. I have yet to run into someone who smokes four cigarettes worth of pot in a day, and while I'm sure they must exist from what I can see the average is more like an amount similar to the tobacco you'd find in a quarter of a cigarette.
    - jaynos 13y ago
      It helps that marijuana is not addictive in most of the population.
      - lugg 13y ago
        For those interested, to expand on the above. Physically its not addictive in any of the population, if you are predisposed to addictive tendencies you can very easily build up a pschological dependency which isn't totally hard to break but there is about 8 days worth of withdrawals to go through, the first 4 or so which can be pretty emotionally intense.
    - lugg 13y ago
      Average school boy stoner or graduated professional and functional addict? There is a bit of a difference. The majority of full time stoners, not exactly functional usually dealers could easily smoke 10-20 ciggarette sized joints in a day. A functioning addict could smoke 4-5 a night. Schoolboy stoners might smoke 2-3 a day. 4-5 a night is very common, at least where I've come from. I'd say about as common as someone who drinks 4 beers in a night after work. Not the total norm but not crazy or anything either.

carbocation 13y ago

> Consuming marijuana in edible or vapor form possesses no risk of cancer. I would like to see a citation of a study that is powered to detect population-level effects which demonstrates that claim. As an aside, I'd also like to see solid data on vapor form tobacco. There is not a definitive study at this point to demonstrate safety or clearly delineate the risk. It would be nice the be able to give meaningful guidance to patients on the topic of marijuana and tobacco, but right now I believe the most accurate and responsible thing to say is "I don't know."

lugg 13y ago
I've been in the vapor scene for a while, I'm starting to hear a few horror stories about liquid build up in the lungs. My guess is over use but its something to watch for. Regarding pot not causing lung cancer I can't really argue, emphasima on the other hand is a very real thing. While this is anecdotal, my mother is a nurse in a country town where there are a lot of weed only life long smokers and most of the old boys are starting to show up in hospital with emphasima. My understanding was that there is about 10 cigarettes worth of tar in a similarly sized joint. I have heard the old wives story about weed doesn't cause cancer many times. Never have I found any study pertaining to it. Or have I been shown any proof. The idea that there is no carcinogens created from burning plant material of any kind is laughable to me. The amount is questionable only maybe. As from personal experience, heavy daily usage is certainly detrimental to health and breathing capacity. There is a lot of misinformation out there take my views and others with a grain of salt. Disclosure, ive always been a staunch legalisation supporter. Never been a fan of decriminalization. Edit, and no I dont smoke anymore.
- tsotha 13y ago
  >My understanding was that there is about 10 cigarettes worth of tar in a similarly sized joint. That may be true, but how much does your average pot smoker actually smoke in a day? My dad was a two-pack-a-day cigarette smoker, which is forty cigarettes. I have yet to run into someone who smokes four cigarettes worth of pot in a day, and while I'm sure they must exist from what I can see the average is more like an amount similar to the tobacco you'd find in a quarter of a cigarette.
  - jaynos 13y ago
    It helps that marijuana is not addictive in most of the population.
    - lugg 13y ago
      For those interested, to expand on the above. Physically its not addictive in any of the population, if you are predisposed to addictive tendencies you can very easily build up a pschological dependency which isn't totally hard to break but there is about 8 days worth of withdrawals to go through, the first 4 or so which can be pretty emotionally intense.
  - lugg 13y ago
    Average school boy stoner or graduated professional and functional addict? There is a bit of a difference. The majority of full time stoners, not exactly functional usually dealers could easily smoke 10-20 ciggarette sized joints in a day. A functioning addict could smoke 4-5 a night. Schoolboy stoners might smoke 2-3 a day. 4-5 a night is very common, at least where I've come from. I'd say about as common as someone who drinks 4 beers in a night after work. Not the total norm but not crazy or anything either.