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'''Cannabis-associated respiratory disease''' can refer to ] or to structural damage to the ]. |
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It is often compared to the damage done by ], but it is the subject of much less study. ] is sometimes considered more dangerous because filters are usually not used, and sometimes considered less dangerous because different molecules are involved. |
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The process most popularly used to ingest cannabis is smoking, and for this reason most research has evaluated health effects from this method of ingestion. Other methods of ingestion may have lower or higher health risks. Tobacco smoking has well-established risks such as ], ]ing, overproduction of ], ], and ]. Similar risks for smoking cannabis related to airway ] have been suggested in a study of healthy cannabis users who exhibited similar early characteristics to ].<ref>{{cite journal | title=Airway Inflammation in Young Marijuana and Tobacco Smokers | author= M.D. Roth ''et al.'' | journal=American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | volume=157 | issue= 3 |date=1 March 1998 |pages= 928–937 | url=http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/157/3/928 | pmid=9517614 | page=928 }}</ref> |
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The effects of tobacco and cannabis smoking differ, however, as they affect different parts of the ]: whereas tobacco tends to penetrate to the smaller, peripheral passageways of the ], cannabis tends to concentrate on the larger, central passageways. One consequence of this is that cannabis, unlike tobacco, does not appear to cause ], though this claim is disputed. A 2002 report by the ] estimated that three to four cannabis cigarettes a day were associated with the same amount of damage to the lungs as 20 or more tobacco cigarettes a day.<ref>http://www.lunguk.org/Resources/British%20Lung%20Foundation/Migrated%20Resources/Documents/A/A_Smoking_Gun.pdf</ref> Unlike tobacco, regular cannabis use does not appear to cause ].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Tashkin DP, Simmons MS, Sherrill DL, Coulson AH |title=Heavy habitual marijuana smoking does not cause an accelerated decline in FEV1 with age |journal=American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine |volume=155 |issue=1 |pages=141–8 |year=1997 |month=January |pmid=9001303 |doi=10.1136/thx.2006.077081}}</ref> |
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In some cases, cannabis users mix commercial tobacco in ], called "Spliff" (popular in Europe), tobacco mixed with hash in a ] (India), or cannabis rolled in tobacco leaves (a ]), which would expose the user to the additional risks of tobacco, such as rapid physical addiction to ].<ref name="groups.psychology.org.au">, page 4. "Cannabis has been described as a 'Trojan Horse' for nicotine addiction, given the usual method of mixing cannabis with tobacco when preparing marijuana for administration."</ref> |
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== Cancer risk == |
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Cannabis smoke contains numerous ]s.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Hashibe M, Straif K, Tashkin DP, Morgenstern H, Greenland S, Zhang ZF |title=Epidemiologic review of marijuana use and cancer risk |journal=Alcohol |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=265–75 |year=2005 |month=April |pmid=16054989 |doi=10.1016/j.alcohol.2005.04.008}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Novotny M, Lee ML, Bartle KD |title=A possible chemical basis for the higher mutagenicity of marijuana smoke as compared to tobacco smoke |journal=Experientia |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=280–2 |year=1976 |month=March |pmid=1253890 |doi=10.1007/BF01940790}}</ref><ref>http://www.norml.org/pdf_files/NORML_Cannabis_Smoke_Cancer.pdf</ref> Surprisingly, an extensive study published in 2006 by Donald Tashkin of the ] found that there is no significant link between smoking cannabis and lung cancer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729_pf.html|publisher=|date=2006-05-26|accessdate=2007-02-23 | first=Marc | last=Kaufman}}</ref> The study, which involved a large population sample (1,200 people with lung, neck, or head cancer, and a matching group of 1,040 without cancer) found no correlation between marijuana smoking and increased ] risk, with the same being true for ] as well. The results indicated no correlation between long and short-term cannabis use and cancer, indicating a possible therapeutic effect. Extensive cellular studies and some studies in animal models suggest that THC or ] has ] properties, either by encouraging ] of genetically damaged cells that can become cancerous, or by restricting the development of the blood supply that feeds tumors, or both.<ref name="WebMDcancer">{{cite web | title=Pot Smoking Not Linked to Lung Cancer | author= ] | date=23 May 2006 | url=http://www.webmd.com/content/article/122/114805.htm}} , </ref> Unlike most other studies, this one had a very large sample size and was controlled for tobacco, alcohol, and several socio-demographic factors, which likely confounded the other studies.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} |
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In 2007 a significantly smaller study was released by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand suggested that smoking cannabis increased the risk of lung cancer by 5.7 times over non-smokers.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSHKG10478820080129 | work=Reuters | title=Cannabis bigger cancer risk than cigarettes: study | date=29 January 2008}}</ref> The small 79 person study noted that "In the near future we may see an 'epidemic' of lung cancers connected with this new carcinogen. And the future risk probably applies to many other countries, where increasing use of cannabis among young adults and adolescents is becoming a major public health problem." |
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Prior, a 1997 study examining the records of 64,855 Kaiser patients (14,033 of whom identified themselves as current smokers), also found no positive correlation between cannabis use and cancer.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Marijuana use and cancer incidence (California, United States) | author=S. Sidney | journal=Cancer Causes and Control | volume=8 | issue=5 | month=September | year=1997 | pages= 722–728 | url=http://www.springerlink.com/link.asp?id=l221477720240752 | doi=10.1023/A:1018427320658 | pmid=9328194 | last2=Quesenberry Jr | first2=CP | last3=Friedman | first3=GD | last4=Tekawa | first4=IS}}</ref> |
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Conversely, the 2008 ] from New Zealand mentioned earlier by the Cannabis and Respiratory Disease Research Group examining adults under age 55 with lung cancer concluded that smoking cannabis was significantly associated with risk of developing lung cancer, after controlling for smoking tobacco; the highest ] of marijuana smokers were estimated to have a 5.7-fold higher risk of lung cancer compared to nonusers.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Aldington S, Harwood M, Cox B, ''et al.'' |title=Cannabis use and risk of lung cancer: a case-control study |journal=The European Respiratory Journal |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=280–6 |year=2008 |month=February |pmid=18238947 |pmc=2516340 |doi=10.1183/09031936.00065707 |author10=Cannabis and Respiratory Disease Research Group}}</ref> |
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A ] study concluded that THC, a dilative agent (]), may help cleanse the lungs by dilating the ], and could actively reduce the instance of tumors.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Huff J, Chan P |title=Antitumor effects of THC |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=108 |issue=10 |pages=A442–3 |year=2000 |month=October |pmid=11097557 |pmc=1240145 |doi=10.2307/3435034}}</ref> Additionally, a study by Rosenblatt ''et al.'' found no association between marijuana use and the development of ].<ref>{{cite journal | title=Marijuana Use and Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma | author= K.A. Rosenblatt ''et al.'' | journal=Cancer Research | volume= 64 | date= 1 June 2004 | pages=4049–4054 | url=http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/64/11/4049 | doi=10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-03-3425 | pmid=15173020 | issue=11}}</ref> However, a contrasting study conducted in 2000 linked the smoking of cannabis to the growth of cancerous tumors through the impairment of anti-tumor defenses in mice.<ref name=TumorGrowth>{{cite news|url=http://www.drugabuse.gov/MedAdv/00/NR6-20.html|title=Study Finds Marijuana Ingredient Promotes Tumor Growth, Impairs Anti-Tumor Defenses|org=Journal of Immunology|author=Dr. Steven M. Dubinett|date=July 2006}}</ref> |
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A preliminary 2009 study found that cannabis use may increase the risk of ]. In particular, the risk of developing nonseminoma testicular cancer, a more aggressive form of the disease, was increased in current cannabis users and even greater in long-term chronic users. This however is overshadowed by the fact that researchers are unable to determine what about marijuana causes the increased risk, or for that matter if a positive correlation can be established. A statement was released by the researchers that performed the study as seen below: |
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"This is the first study to look at this question, and by itself is not definitive. And there's a lot more research that would have to be done in order to prove that marijuana use really increases a man's risk of developing testicular cancer", - Stephen Schwartz.<ref>, '']'', Reuters, 9 February 2009</ref> |
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Cannabis smoke (but not the plant itself) has recently been added to a "list of substances California regulators say cause cancer".<ref>''Sunday Examiner''. June 21, 2009</ref> California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard assessment has added cannabis smoke to the list after it found that it "contains 33 of the same harmful chemicals as tobacco smoke."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ca.gov/search?access=p&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&ud=1&site=ca_oehha&ie=UTF-8&client=ca_oehha&oe=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=ca_oehha&q=cannabis+smoke&ip=59.101.63.116&filter=0// |title=Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment |publisher=Search.ca.gov |date= |accessdate=2011-04-20}}</ref> |
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== UCLA study == |
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On 23 May 2006, Donald Tashkin, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles announced that the use of cannabis does not appear to increase the risk of developing lung cancer, or increase the risk of head and neck cancers, such as cancer of the tongue, mouth, throat, or esophagus.<ref name="Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use And Lung Cancer">{{cite news|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm|org=Science Daily|date=26 May 2006|title=Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use And Lung Cancer}}</ref> The study involved 2252 participants, with some of the most chronic marijuana smokers having smoked over 22,000 marijuana cigarettes.<ref name="Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use And Lung Cancer"/><ref name="Tobacco">{{cite news|url=http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1106/a09.html?275821|title=Marijuana Smoking Does Not Cause Lung Cancer|org=Anderson Valley Advertiser|author=Fred Gardner|date=2006-07-06}}</ref><ref name=tashkin1997>Tashkin, D. P., Simmons, M. S., Sherrill, D. L., and Coulson, A. H. 1997. . ''American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine'' '''155'''(1): 141-148. Retrieved on 5 March 2007</ref><ref name="UCLA study">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729_pf.html|title=Study finds no marijuana-lung cancer link|publisher=Washington Post|date=2006-05-26|accessdate=2006-07-13 | first=Marc | last=Kaufman}}</ref><!-- #######need better citation from HIATEOC####### --> The finding of Donald Tashkin, M.D., and his team of researchers in 2006 refined their earlier studies published in a Dec. 17th 2000 edition of the peer-reviewed journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarker and Prevention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/12/991220082058.htm |title=Researchers At UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center Report Smoking Marijuana May Increase Risk Of Head And Neck Cancers |publisher=Sciencedaily.com |date=1999-12-20 |accessdate=2011-04-20}}</ref> Many opponents of marijuana incorrectly cite the original finding of UCLA Medical Center from 2000 as "proof" that marijuana leaves the users at higher risk for cancer of the lung, and cancerous tumors,<ref name=TumorGrowth/> even though the researchers at the UCLA Medical Center have revised their finding with a more in-depth study on the effects of the use of marijuana. This seemed to contradict assumptions made after some studies, like those from Dale Gieringer et al., which found that 118 carcinogens were produced when marijuana underwent combustion, and two carcinogens {2-Methyl-2, 4(2H-1-benzopyran-5-ol) & 5-azulene-3,8-dione} formed when marijuana underwent vaporization with the ].<ref name="Sarafian TA, Kouyoumjian S, Tashkin D, Roth MD 2002 171–9">{{cite journal |author=Sarafian TA, Kouyoumjian S, Tashkin D, Roth MD |title=Synergistic cytotoxicity of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol and butylated hydroxyanisole |journal=Toxicol. Lett. |volume=133 |issue=2-3 |pages=171–9 |year=2002 |month=July |pmid=12119125 |doi= 10.1016/S0378-4274(02)00134-0|url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378427402001340}}</ref> To help explain this seemingly chemical proof of carcinogenicity inherent in the process of combustion, Tashkin noted that "one possible explanation for the new findings, he said, is that THC, a chemical in marijuana smoke, may encourage aging cells to die earlier and therefore be less likely to undergo cancerous transformation."<ref name="Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use And Lung Cancer">{{cite news|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm|org=Science Daily|date=26 May 2006}}</ref> |
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In a study of ten smokers with mild respiratory issues Hii et al. found evidence of lung disease in the form of severe bullae (fluid-filled, thin-walled blisters) of different shapes and sizes. Despite such lung disease, the patients' chest x-rays were normal and lung function was only mildly reduced in nearly half of the patients. The cannabis-smoking patient group was, on average, 41 years old—considerably younger than previously research tobacco-smoking patients with lung disease, who had an average age of between 62–67 years. The researchers conclude that the younger age of lung disease and poorer lung function may be due to different smoking patterns demonstrated in cannabis smokers,<ref>Hii, S.W., Tam, J.D.C., Thompson, B.R. & Naughton, M.T. (2008). Bullous lung disease due to marijuana. ''Respirology 13, 122-127''</ref> who have been found to inhale larger amounts of smoke, which is held in the lungs for longer periods of time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ncpic.org.au/ncpic/publications/factsheets/article/cannabis-and-tobacco-use// |title=NCPIC Cannabis and tobacco factsheet |publisher=Ncpic.org.au |date=2011-03-11 |accessdate=2011-04-20}}</ref> |
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==Contaminated Cannabis and the Risks of Respiratory Disease== |
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Herbal Cannabis was once considered to be pure and never suspected to be cut (diluted) for profits, unlike common forms of cheap Cannabis resin marketed for and sold on the streets of countries such as the United Kingdom, known as "Soap Bar." However over the past five years herbal Cannabis has been found to contain many forms of contaminants and is now potentially more dangerous and presents more health risks to smokers than contaminated resin ever has. There are many ways in which Cannabis leaves or flowers are being contaminated, these include being dusted with partiicles of glass, dipped in chemical solutions or sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids (such as JWH-018 or AM-2201), and succesfully identifying the contaminants is becoming increasingly more difficult. The most worrying of the contaminants are the particles of glass, most commonly beads of Silica and have been found to be as small as 50 microns, or 0.05mm across. |
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The inhilation of Silica dust in the lungs is the cause of a occupational respiratory disease called Silicosis and depending on the levels of exposure can be fatal. As the dangers of contaminated herbal Cannabis are relatively new, and the effects of Silicosis slow developing, it is yet unkown what effect smoking this bad form of Cannabis will have on a persons lungs. It is suspected that these particles of glass are too large and that anything over 15 microns or 0.015mm is unlikely to enter the lungs. However there is currently no medical study to show that this isn't the case, and it has been found that these particles of glass are becoming harder to detect, possibly becoming small enough to enter the lungs and more likely to cause serious harm. |
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It's not only the United Kingdom which has become a victim of this, it has also been found in many European countries including Amsterdam, and is now even showing up in the United States and Canada. It's not only illegal street users who are at risk, but it's also a risk to those who smoke in legal Dutch coffee shops, as well as medical users who use it for the relief or pain or to treat medical conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis. It's still debatable about the effects pure, clean Cannabis has, but there's no doubt that smoking a form of contaminatred Cannabis is not good for you and should be avoided at all costs. |
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There are many tests one can perform to try and identify contaminated Cannabis, none of which are 100% accurate, these including tasting the plant for salt or chemically tastes, rubbing between wet fingers or grinding between teeth to test for grittiness, or saturating the plant in water overnight to test for greasy substances. If you suspect that the Cannabis you're smoking has been contamined, either by performing tests or by other sources of information, it's advised that you stop smoking the Cannabis imediately and only purchase it from sources which you know are reliable. |
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==Reference== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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{{Cannabis}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannabis-Associated Respiratory Disease}} |
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] |
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