Though tobacco use is decreasing among adults in the U.S., cannabis use is increasingly becoming more common. The laws and policies that regulate tobacco and cannabis are also shifting in different directions.
Tobacco policies are becoming stricter, with smoking bans in public areas and sales limitations, such as statewide bans on flavored products. On the other hand, many states are legalizing cannabis for medical or recreational purposes, and there are attempts to create exceptions for cannabis in smoke-free laws.
These shifts mean that a growing number of individuals are likely to be exposed to cannabis smoke. But how safe is direct and secondhand cannabis smoke, and why are so many people turning to cannabis despite potential risks?
I am a primary care doctor and researcher in a state where cannabis is now legal for both medical and recreational use. My colleagues and I are interested in understanding how opinions about the safety of tobacco and cannabis smoke have evolved during this period of increased cannabis use and marketing. This exploration is crucial to understanding why cannabis is becoming more prevalent in society.
In our survey of over 5,000 U.S. adults conducted in 2017, 2020, and 2021, we discovered that people increasingly believe that exposure to cannabis smoke is safer than tobacco smoke. In 2017, 26% of participants thought smoking a cannabis joint daily was safer than smoking cigarettes daily. By 2021, this number had risen to over 44%. Similarly, people were more inclined to consider secondhand cannabis smoke as “completely safe” compared to tobacco smoke, even for vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
Despite these growing perceptions, emerging research is raising concerns about the health effects of cannabis smoke exposure. To understand why “everyone” seems to be smoking weed, it’s essential to delve into these perceptions versus the scientific evidence.
Do Opinions on Cannabis Safety Align with Scientific Evidence?
Decades of research have clearly linked tobacco smoke to numerous types of cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, the long-term effects of cannabis smoke have been studied far less extensively. The federal illegality of cannabis has made it more challenging for scientists to conduct in-depth research, especially on long-term health outcomes that may develop after years of exposure.
Recent reviews of studies on cannabis and cancer or cardiovascular disease have found the existing research inadequate. These studies often included few participants with heavy cannabis exposure, lacked long-term follow-up, or didn’t properly account for concurrent cigarette smoking. This lack of definitive long-term data might contribute to the perception that cannabis is safer, as clear, alarming evidence similar to tobacco is not yet widely established.
Many cannabis advocates point to the absence of conclusive findings on the negative health effects of cannabis smoke exposure as proof of its harmlessness. However, this perspective can be misleading. The lack of evidence of harm should not be interpreted as evidence of no harm. This is a critical point in understanding why people might underestimate the risks of cannabis smoke and why cannabis use is rising.
Scientists have identified hundreds of chemicals in both cannabis and tobacco smoke, and they share many of the same carcinogens and toxins. The combustion process in both smoking and vaping releases particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, potentially causing tissue damage. Animal studies comparing secondhand tobacco and cannabis smoke reveal similar concerning effects on the cardiovascular system, including impaired blood vessel dilation, increased blood pressure, and reduced heart function. These parallels highlight that the combustion of plant matter, regardless of the source, carries inherent risks.
While more research is needed to fully determine the risks of lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes associated with cannabis smoke, current knowledge has already raised concerns among public health agencies. These agencies emphasize caution and highlight the potential dangers, urging for more comprehensive research and public awareness.
Why Public Perception of Cannabis Safety Matters
Public opinion on cannabis safety significantly impacts its usage and public policy. Research consistently shows that if people perceive a substance as less risky, they are more likely to use it. This perception directly fuels the increasing rates of cannabis consumption. Favorable opinions on cannabis safety will also shape medical and recreational cannabis laws and regulations. The ongoing debate about whether cannabis smoke should be treated similarly to tobacco smoke in public health policies reflects this influence of public perception.
The complexity surrounding cannabis use is partly due to its potential benefits, unlike tobacco, which has no recognized health benefits. Clinical trials have indicated that cannabis can be beneficial in managing chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and appetite loss in HIV/AIDS patients. It’s important to note that many of these studies utilized forms of cannabis consumption other than smoking or vaping, such as edibles or oils. This distinction is often lost in public discourse, where “cannabis” is sometimes broadly considered safe without differentiating consumption methods.
Despite the limited, specific medical benefits, a quick online search for cannabis yields numerous claims about its health advantages. However, many of these claims lack robust scientific backing. This easy access to often exaggerated or unsubstantiated health claims contributes to a skewed public perception, further driving the belief that cannabis is a harmless or even beneficial substance. This readily available misinformation is a key factor in why people might choose to smoke weed, overlooking potential risks.
For individuals seeking to understand the potential benefits and risks of cannabis, consulting healthcare providers or reliable, unbiased sources of scientific evidence is crucial. Organizations like the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health offer comprehensive overviews of cannabis research, covering both potential therapeutic uses and possible risks. Informed decisions based on factual, scientific evidence are essential for navigating the complex landscape of cannabis use and public health.
