One Joint’s Toll On Lungs Equal To Five Cigarettes: Study
Posted July 31, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Smoking one joint might seem relatively harmless to some, but according to new research published Tuesday, a single “marijuana cigarette” is as harmful to the lungs as five of the tobacco variety.
According to the study, those who smoked cannabis suffered damage to both the lungs’ small fine airways used for transporting oxygen, and the large airways, which blocked air flow, causing users to complain of wheezing, coughing and chest tightness.
The experts at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand tested 339 people, including those that only smoked weed, some that only smoked cigarettes and a few who indulged in both.
Their conclusion was that the subjects who only smoked tobacco were the most likely to suffer from emphysema, but those that were partial to the dope had the most general lung discomfort.
“The extent of this damage was directly related to the number of joints smoked, with higher consumption linked to greater incapacity,” said the authors of the report published in the medical journal Thorax. “The effect on the lungs of each joint was equivalent to smoking between 2.5 and five cigarettes in one go.”
The British government is considering whether cannabis should be reclassified as a more serious drug because of the dangers associated with stronger strains.
“The danger cannabis poses to respiratory health is consistently being overlooked,” said Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation.
“Smoking a joint is more harmful to the lungs than smoking a cigarette and we have just banned people from doing that in public places because of the health risks.”
Tuesday’s isn’t the only recent study to warn of the dangers of marijuana. Last week British researchers suggested use of the drug increased the risk of developing psychotic illnesses including schizophrenia.
