Does marijuana cause lung cancer?

The relationship between marijuana usage and lung health is a complex issue that isn't fully understood by medical professionals. In light of changing marijuana laws that have made marijuana legal in various areas, usage has increased. In 2021, about 53.5 million people used marijuana, according to Mayo Clinic Health systems. This increased usage may spur people to think about how marijuana can affect their bodies, including their lungs. While cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke contain many of the same potent carcinogens, it is unknown if marijuana facilitates the development of lung cancer. Cigarettes have more obvious cancer-causing substances, says the Mayo Clinic, but marijuana is not chemical-free. Tar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, cyanide, benzene, and many other substances can be found in marijuana smoke. Some of these chemicals have been linked to lung diseases, including cancer. While one cannot indisputably link marijuana smoking to lung cancer, marijuana can lead to acute bronchospasm, which is a sudden narrowing of the airways that can make breathing difficult. It also can increase the risk of developing chronic bronchitis, particularly among regular users of marijuana. It should be noted that vaping marijuana does not necessarily make it safer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found vaping products containing marijuana were tied to a 2019 outbreak of E-Cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung injury (EVALI). Vaping also is associated with high-potency concentrates of marijuana, which may affect not only the lungs, but lead to higher risk of mental health problems with continued use. Researchers have long been interested in a potential connection between marijuana and lung cancer. The primary finding of a 2013 study published in Cancer Causes Control provided initial longitudinal evidence that cannabis use might elevate lung cancer risk. A greater number of studies and generally more research is needed to fully understand the risk associated with smoking marijuana, including whether or not it causes lung cancer. Until then, people may want to consider alternative delivery methods like edibles or gummies, which may be safer for the lungs.