A Systematic Review of the Respiratory Effects of Inhalational Marijuana

Abstract

This systematic review focuses on respiratory effects of inhalational marijuana. The systematic review of the literature was conducted using a comparative method between 2 researchers. Abstracts were reviewed for inclusion of respiratory effects related to inhalational marijuana. Relevant abstracts were collected, and full text articles were retrieved for review. Articles were removed if they did not contain burning marijuana; were animal studies; or were editorials, systematic reviews, commentaries, non-English language, or non-respiratory-related articles. Forty-eight articles were collected and categorized by respiratory effects. In particular, lung cancer, bullous emphysema/COPD, and other respiratory symptoms were the primary categories. Articles were noted by study population country, sample size, age distribution, and findings that were pertinent to respiratory health. The research indicates that there is a risk of lung cancer from inhalational marijuana as well as an association between inhalational marijuana and spontaneous pneumothorax, bullous emphysema, or COPD. A variety of symptoms have been reported by inhalational marijuana smokers, including wheezing, shortness of breath, altered pulmonary function tests, cough, phlegm production, bronchodilation, and other symptoms. It is important to stay current with research findings to educate patients on this smoking behavior.

Cannabis use among patients at a comprehensive cancer center in a state with legalized medicinal and recreational use

“…Prior studies using synthetic THC analogues [9][10][11] have not incorporated the whole cannabis plant and, therefore, cannot evaluate other substances, such as terpenes and flavonoids, that may enhance or provide additional therapeutic properties. 49 At the same time, the numerous potential risks of cannabis in this population, including drug-drug interactions, 17,50 infections, 16,51-54 sinopulmonary side effects, 18,[54][55][56] neuropsychiatric sequelae, 19,57 and unintended overdoses/poisonings, [58][59][60][61] argue for rigorous safety studies. Currently, however, the US government continues to classify cannabis as a schedule I drug, and this restricts federal funding for safety studies and those assessing its therapeutic use in this population.…”

“…5,7,14,15 With insufficient data demonstrating the benefits for cancer patients, small studies and clinical observations have also raised concerns about the safety of cannabis use in immunosuppressed populations. [16][17][18][19] Currently, most available data on the medical uses of cannabis for cancer-related symptom management come from nonscientific observations assembled from Web sites, lay press, and community interactions rather than rigorous scientific research. 7 Increasing interest and shifting political attitudes on cannabis, coupled with a lack of knowledge of the risks and benefits in cancer care, indicate a need to understand current use patterns and to develop accurate and informative education for both cancer patients and their providers.…”

Cannabis use is associated with reduced prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study

“…With the recent rise in cannabis legalization across different states in the USA, this number is expected to grow even further. While cannabis use (CU) is associated with increased prevalence of disorders such as schizophrenia [3], cyclical hyperemesis syndrome [4], and pulmonary diseases [5], it has also been linked to a reduction in obesity [6] and diabetes mellitus (DM) [7–9]. The prevalence of these disorders is expected to be impacted as CU increases over the coming years.…”

Self‐reported marijuana use over 25 years and abdominal adiposity: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

“…This is association is likely confounded by smoking status; we do not observe an association between physical activity and marijuana use for individuals who report never smoking cigarettes or who are current cigarette smokers and former cigarette smokers may have increased their level of physical activity in the time since quitting smoking cigarettes ( e.g ., medical recommendation, improved physical fitness, or ability to be physically active). The dearth of data on long‐term marijuana use warrants more research on the prolonged health effects of marijuana use, particularly considering the uncertainty surrounding the prevalence of marijuana use before and after legalization of medicinal and recreational use in the US .…”

“…Marijuana is one of the 3 most used psychoactive substances in the United States (US), with nearly 38 million individuals 12 years of age and older using marijuana during the past year in 2016 . Whether the growing utilization of marijuana for medicinal use has an impact on the prevalence of recreational use and abuse/dependence is unclear . Acute cardiovascular health effects of marijuana use include increased heart rate , trigger for myocardial infarction , and acute respiratory conditions .…”