According to the latest research published in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, smoking cannabis poses fewer risks to the lungs than smoking tobacco—and it’s not linked to the development of emphysema.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School reviewed CT scans from 285 people, including individuals who use marijuana, tobacco smokers, and non-smokers. What they found was eye-opening. Those who smoked tobacco showed significantly more damage to their hearts and lungs compared to marijuana users. In fact, tobacco smokers were much more likely to suffer from serious conditions like coronary artery calcification and emphysema.
The authors of the study noted clear differences in how tobacco and marijuana affect the lungs and heart. They concluded that cannabis users generally don’t develop the kind of lung issues—like emphysema or pulmonary hyperinflation—that are often seen in tobacco smokers.
Other studies have also shown that marijuana smoke doesn’t carry the same cancer-causing risks as tobacco. Even better, using a vaporizer can reduce exposure to harmful gases. Clinical trials have even called vaporization a “safe and effective” method for consuming cannabis.
Paul Armentano from NORML put it well. He pointed out that despite all this science, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law—while tobacco, which kills hundreds of thousands each year, isn’t even scheduled. It doesn’t make sense. Cannabis use is not nearly as dangerous as tobacco. The data backs that up.
For anyone interested, the study is titled “Quantitative and qualitative imaging in marijuana users and smokers” and it’s available on ScienceDirect. NORML also has a helpful fact sheet called Cannabis Exposure and Lung Health that goes into more detail.
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