As more states allow marijuana for medicinal uses, its benefits – both potential and proven – seem like weed to grow. The drug, which is derived from the cannabis plant, is used to relieve nerve pain, relieve nausea during chemotherapy, treat glaucoma, and even treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Research shows that it can open your airways as well. But can something that you burn and inhale help lung conditions that result from smoking, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD?
“We know that when people inhale cannabis, the airways widen a little,” says Dr. Albert Rizzo, pulmonologist and chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. “But when you breathe smoke, you cause inflammation in your airways.”
You need to weigh the dangers and potential long-term effects of this swelling against the potential benefits of marijuana.
It still smokes
When new benefits are introduced that link marijuana to symptom relief or the improvement of certain conditions, “people hold onto them,” says David Mannino, pulmonologist and medical director and co-founder of the COPD Foundation. But he says, “Our lungs were designed to breathe air and nothing else. Because something is ‘natural’, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. “
If you are both tobacco and marijuana smoker, you are more likely to have breathing problems and COPD. “The two practices of tobacco smoking and marijuana smoking are linked,” says Mannino. “Many people who smoke marijuana also smoke cigarettes.”
A Canadian study showed that smoking marijuana alone did not increase the risk of breathing problems. However, heavy, long-term smoking of marijuana can lead to a condition called “marijuana lungs.” Younger marijuana smokers in particular have developed emphysema along with large bubbles and air pockets that take up the space your lungs use for healthy breathing.
The American Lung Association and other professional lung societies emphasize the harm caused by inhaling products that are flammable or intended to be burned. They tell people with breathing problems like asthma and COPD to stick to the “tried and tested” breathing medication their doctor prescribes. These drugs have gone through clinical trials to show that they’re safe and effective, says Rizzo.
continuation
More studies needed
The changes to federal laws that open up access to cannabis from many sources will help fuel much-needed research on how it affects the lungs, says Rizzo. Researchers must use cannabis products that are available across the community or that are similar to those that medical marijuana dispensaries offer. This will more accurately reflect the impact they are having on users, he says.
To date, 36 American states have approved cannabis for medicinal purposes. 15 states allow marijuana for general adult use.
People also breathe cannabis in different ways. “This includes different devices, different breathing patterns, different intensity and frequency of smoking, which are difficult to clarify in clinical studies.” Says Rizzo. “We need more research.”
Vaping also brings toxins
There are so many differences between vaping devices, how they are used, ingredients, and possible toxins if inhaled. None of this is well studied, says Rizzo. “Again, more research is needed.”
“All of these steamers overheat … like crack pipes,” notes Mannino. “None of this is good for you.”
Food is not smoked, so there is no evidence that it would harm the lungs. But there’s also no proof they’re safe, says Mannino. One study found cause for concern about the largely uncontrolled, growing market for edible cannabis products. The variable or mixed strength of foods has led to reports of mental distress, gastric and heart-related side effects, and an increase in emergency rooms.
The addictive factor
Marijuana use also has “components of addiction,” says Mannino. People can self-medicate with marijuana to treat other problems like anxiety.
“You may be treating one thing, but you are causing a different set of problems,” he says.
Talk to your doctor
If you want to try marijuana because of a medical problem, see your doctor first. Be honest and straightforward.
“The benefits and risks should always be discussed between the patient and their healthcare provider,” says Rizzo.
sources
SOURCES:
Harvard Health Publishing: “Medical Marijuana”.
Albert A. Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association.
David Mannino, MD, director, Pulmonary Epidemiology Research Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington; Medical Director, COPD Foundation.
Canadian Medical Association Journal: “Marijuana and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Population-Based Study.”
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation: “Marihuana Lung”.
National Congress of State Legislators: State Medical Marijuana Laws.
Frontiers in Psychiatry: “Legalization of Cannabis and Acute Harm from High Potency Cannabis Products: A Narrative Review and Recommendations for Public Health.”
© 2021 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Comments are closed.