Cannabis in Pulmonary Medicine

Merrick, Christopher; LeBlanc, Jesse J.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-45968-0_8

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 69 publications

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“…7,8 Smoking marijuana exposes the lungs to toxic combustion products that can trigger various respiratory issues such as asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 9,10,11,12 Moreover, recent trends in vaping, e-cigarettes, and alternative forms of cannabis consumption have revealed damage to lung histology and blood vessels. 13,14 Furthermore, potential health risks are associated with THC additives and oils used in smoking, and the development of new ingredients for cannabis vaporizers, such as Vitamin E, Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ10-tetrahydrocannabinol, hexahydrocannabinol, and cannabichromene, continues to increase.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Smoking Marijuana on the Respiratory System: A Systematic Review

Vásconez-González,

Delgado-Moreira,

López-Molina

et al. 2023

Substance Abuse

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Background: The prevalence of marijuana use and its derivatives has surged over the past century, largely due to increasing legalization globally. Despite arguments advocating its benefits, marijuana smoking exposes the lungs to harmful combustion byproducts, leading to various respiratory issues such as asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: We embarked on an extensive literature search, utilizing PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, identifying 200 studies. After the elimination of duplicates, and meticulous review of abstracts and full texts, 55 studies were included in our analysis. Results: Current literature demonstrates that marijuana use negatively impacts lung function, triggering symptoms like chronic cough, sputum production, and wheezing, and diminishing FEV1/FVC ratio in spirometry tests. Moreover, prolonged or chronic marijuana use augments the risk of respiratory function impairment. While the carcinogenic effects of marijuana are still contested, a weak correlation between marijuana use and lung cancer has been observed in some studies. Additionally, instances of other pathologies linked to marijuana use have been reported, including the development of COPD, pulmonary bullae, spontaneous pneumothorax, pleuritic pain, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, hemoptysis, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Conclusions: The evidence underscores that marijuana use is detrimental to respiratory health. In light of the escalating trend of marijuana use, particularly among the youth, it is imperative to advocate public health messages discouraging its consumption.

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