Marijuana Link to Lung Cancer Strengthened

A study completed by a New Zealand research group states that marijuana usage may have a more harsh effect on the lungs that cigarette smoking.

Doctors and researchers agree that when used in moderation, the effects of marijuana on the body are far less harmful than the effects of other illegal street drugs like cocaine, heroin or ice. But, when the amount of marijuana smoking increases to a more frequent level, the effects on the body increase, as well. Frequent marijuana smoking can lead to memory loss, loss of the ability to learn, psychosis or psychotic episodes and bronchial illness. No link, however, has been found between smoking marijuana and lung cancer, until now.

A research team based out of New Zealand has completed a study that shows strong signs of lung cancer factors linked to smoking marijuana. The research group studied a group of participants aged 55 years or less. These participants, were all previously diagnosed with lung cancer. The study consisted of a questionnaire regarding the participants exposure to cigarette and marijuana smoking.

The results of the study clearly identified a possible link between marijuana users and lung cancer. The participants who admitted to smoking marijuana once a day for ten years or twice a day for five years showed a rate of lung cancer six time higher than those who did not smoke marijuana

Further information revealed that the likelihood of contracting lung cancer from smoking marijuana is present in one out of every 20 lung cancer cases.

Researchers found that the smoke inhaled from a marijuana cigarette was far more carcinogenic than the smoke inhaled from a tobacco cigarette and that one marijuana cigarette was equal to smoking 20 tobacco cigarettes.

The finding showed no increased risk of lung cancer for participants who occasionally smoked marijuana during their lifetimes.

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