Love To Smoke... But Scared Of Health Issues?

The cannabinoids present in that smoke will most likely counteract any negative effects the tar/smoke has.
 
If its really a concern, get a vaporizer

 

As long as there's nothing on your buds (pesticides, chemicals) you'll be alright. Weed isn't anything like cigarettes.

 

Do you use a glass piece to smoke with? Smoke a bowl and if the weed doesn't sizzle/crack and the ash is all light grey you're good.

 

I know people who have been smoking tobacco product for 60+ years straight, and they still don't have severe lung cancer, or any side effects other than coughing up shit in the morning. Marijuana is less harmful than tobacco, if it is even harmful at all. I personally feel that it has benefits even for someone with completely healthy lungs. Ever since I started smoking marijuana I've noticed my lung capacity increased, and I was able to breathe easier. I don't use tobacco product, or inhale any other substances.

 

Vaporize and you won't have to worry about it.

 

Here's a recent post from a similar thread... just some food for thought. <span></span>
 
 The post below in part discusses the largest study of its kind ever performed on lung function, which just happened to include cannabis use, and prove that cannabis smokers, not vapers, or edibles users, but -smokers- and even the heavier users, tested positively for better lung health and lower occurrence of all diseases screened for during the study, than not just tobacco users, but also 100% NON-smokers.



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Quote:
     Originally Posted by mambugaw <span></span>
When   you go through the Dare program they claim cannabis has 5x the tar as   cigarettes but they only show nasty pictures of cigarette smokers  lungs.  Never any weed smoker.

After I realized this this morning I was like "whoa that would be a great argument against an anti-weed-person."

Discuss.


And my reply....



After spending decades, and millions of dollars trying to find fault  with  cannabis, virtually all they could conclude was that based on  'tars',  cannabis  'should' be 5 times more dangerous than tobacco, due  to their  different  tar loads.


It was the most convenient explanation they could  come up  with.. while neglecting to study actual cannabis smokers.



The thing is, they intentionally neglected to mention that not all tars   are created equal (for instance the tar from combusted drinking-tea   leaves tends to be much healthier than tobacco, gram for gram, while cannabis tar is even healthier and less detrimental than the tar from tea).


And they conveniently left out the fact that cannabis tars tend not to collect and lodge in lung    tissue in the same ways as those in both naturally occurring tobacco,    and especially when compared to the synthetic chemicals added to  common  smoking  tobacco.

Not only are you comparing two COMPLETELY different plants, filled with entirely different chemicals to begin with, but the tobacco sold in gas stations is RIDDLED with over 1,400 man-added chemicals.



It's why they always like to whip out those photos of tobacco-stained lungs.... but very oddly, no one's managed to capture a good 'nasty' photo for cannabis smoke!
 
It would be a bit hard to believe, that the thought to go out and find one, simply never occurred to them. <span></span>

 
And look at all the gold medal winning Olympic athletes, who are cannabis smokers!


Regular cannabis smokers, not just vapers or edible users, but smokers, tend also to have greater lung capacity and higher lung function   (oxygen  delivered to bloodstream per breath/volume of air inhaled),   than not  only tobacco smokers, but greater than 100% NON-smokers! <span></span>
 
 
It's one of the reasons the Olympic/WADA deemed it 'performance enhancing'.
 
It does so little damage, that our 'practiced breathing techniques' (ie. hits from the bong!), not to mention the effects of several of the cannabinoids themselves, actually strengthen and improve our lung function over time!


The people with lung trouble tend to smoke joints and blunts.... but even they weren't enough to hurt our scores overall, during lab testing and multiple broad, several-decade-long studies, including one of the largest of its kind, headed by a world-renowned expert on lung health, who once worked FOR the government to expose cannabis harm, but had to change his mind during the course of documenting his findings!



   That's right, one of the worlds leading experts in lung health and smoke damage, a man who USED to be one of the top anti-drug researchers, has recently had to change his mind and opinions on the hazards of, not just cannabis use, but cannabis SMOKE!



Why should you take his opinion seriously?

He helped pioneer the 'five times worse' theory, and he believed in it... that is, until he took the initiative to actually study those people who used cannabis, and made some starling discoveries!



Smoking pot doesn't hurt lung capacity, study shows - Vitals


Is Pot Good for Lungs? New Marijuana Study Adds to Health-Effects Debate - The Daily Beast


Marijuana Use Improves Lung Function in Study | Stuff.co.nz


Top Anti-Drug Researcher Changes His Mind, Says Legalize Marijuana | Cannabis Culture


"For 30 years, Donald Tashkin has studied the effects of marijuana on  lung  function.   His work has been funded by the vehemently anti-marijuana   National   Institute on Drug Abuse, which has long sought to demonstrate   that   marijuana causes lung cancer. After 3 decades of anti-drug  research, here's what Tashkin has to say about marijuana laws:
"Early on, when our research appeared as if there would  be a negative impact on lung    health, I was opposed to legalization  because I thought it would  lead   to increased use and that would lead to  increased health  effects,"   Tashkin says. "But at this point, I'd be in  favor of  legalization. I   wouldn't encourage anybody to smoke any  substances.  But I don't think   it should be stigmatized as an illegal  substance.  Tobacco smoking   causes far more harm. And in terms of an  intoxicant,  alcohol causes far   more harm." [McClatchy]
We've    been told a thousand times that marijuana destroys your lungs,  that    it's 5 times worse than cigarettes, and on and on. Yet here is  Donald    Tashkin, literally the top expert in the world when it comes to     marijuana and lung health, telling us    it's time to legalize marijuana.  His views are shaped not by ideology,    but rather by the 30 years he  spent studying the issue. He didn't    expect the science to come out in  favor of marijuana, but that's what    happened and he's willing to admit  it.
Here's the study that really turned things around:
UCLA's Tashkin studied heavy marijuana smokers to  determine whether the use led to increased risk of lung    cancer and  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He    hypothesized that  there would be a definitive link between cancer and    marijuana smoking,  but the results proved otherwise."What we found    instead was no  association and even a suggestion of some protective    effect," says  Tashkin, whose research was the largest case-control    study ever  conducted.
Prejudice against marijuana and    smoking in general runs so deep for  many people that it just seems    inconceivable that marijuana could  actually reduce the risk of lung    cancer. But that's what the data shows  and it not only demolishes a    major tenet of popular anti-pot propaganda,  but also points towards a    potentially groundbreaking opportunity to  develop cancer cures  through   marijuana research.
Over and over again, all the bad things we've been told about     marijuana are revealed to be not only false, but often the precise     opposite of the truth. So the next time someone tells you that marijuana     is worse for your lungs than cigarettes, you might want to mention    that  the world's leading expert on that subject happens to be a    supporter of  legalization."





So statistically speaking you're on the safe side, but to most of us,  logic still dictates that it's never really a great idea to inhale a  whole lot of burning plant matter, especially if you feel something is  wrong. If you're having problems, just cut back and give your lungs a  chance to clear out (and be sure your source for herb is clean)!


Personally I regularly smoke several grams, and more rarely, up to a  half ounce a day around the harvest season/s and during celebrations,  and the only times I've ever found myself having any difficulty (a  little coughing after taking a hit etc.) have been after rolling too  many joints and blunts in a row, while the same amount smoked through a  pipe or a bong leaves me golden. <span></span>




Keep in mind that it's certainly not 'unhealthy' for anyone to be using cannabis, just because they don't have a serious medical condition... many scientists and doctors are beginning to hypothesize that cannabis can, and even should be used to supplement,  an already healthy endocannabinoid system, and that even healthy or  adequate bodies may benefit from outside source, similar to how our  bodies can synthesize vitamin D from the sun, as well as by taking it in  from the foods we eat; even if we're 'normal', if we take control over  our levels and intake, we can be healthier for it.


Cannabis is one of the oldest domesticated crops we know of, we've had a  history and relationship with it that consisted of daily, to near-daily  use, right up until a hundred years ago or so.
  (And you never know... there's a chance, that we had that relationship  for a good reason, and that the serious prohibition of cannabis in the  US could have helped play a roll in why, for the first time since we  began keeping track, our average expected lifespan is decreasing  in the US, while many less-regulated countries with poorer health-care  and less food, are still seeing gradual to steady increases.)


"In humans, vitamin D is unique because it can be ingested as  cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) or ergocalciferol (vitamin D2)  and because  the body can also synthesize it (from cholesterol) when sun  exposure  is adequate (hence its nickname, the "sunshine vitamin").

Although vitamin D is commonly called a vitamin, it is not actually an essential dietary vitamin in the strict sense, as it can be synthesized in adequate amounts by all mammals from sunlight."



  Using vitamin D as an example is one of the easier ways to describe  the theory to the layman, that supplementing our natural endocannabinoid  system, can be beneficial, in spite of the fact our bodies already  produce and regulate a similar chemical system.


  (And again, the above is just a theory. However, with everything we know now, until  they can come up with something concrete that proves cannabis is more  'harmful' to the average human body than: white sugar, the synthetic  materials in our clothing, simple plastic exposure, half the food on the  grocery store shelves, or even the air we breathe.... these are all  things that regularly send people to the hospital in much more  serious condition, than cannabis ever could.... it's a bit unrealistic  to say that it's 'bad' for healthy people, until after we eliminate 90%  of the average population's day to day diet and activities <span></span> )

 

If your weed was not flushed properly, it will leave a black ash. an all grey ash means a proper flush.

 

Hon, don't worry so much! Since you are new to all of this, I'm going to be nice and just stick with easy-reading articles for you! However, if you are a Science nerd, like me, I also have the PubMed studies for these in my "Granny Storm Crow's List".
 
THC protects the lungs from cancer!    These are all from the "CANCER- LUNG" section of the List-
 
Marijuana Unlikely to Cause Head, Neck, or Lung Cancer         (news - 2000)
http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20000508/marijuana-unlikely-to-cause-cancer
 
Smoking Cannabis Does Not Cause Cancer of Lung or Upper Airways     (news - 2005)
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/142271/smoking_marijuana_does_not_cause_lung_cancer/?page=entire
 
Cannabis Smoke Is Less Likely To Cause Cancer Than Tobacco Smoke      (news - 2005)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051019003339.htm
 
Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use And Lung Cancer      (news - 2006)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm
 
Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection        (news – 2006)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729_pf.html
 
No association between lung cancer and cannabis smoking in large study    (news - 2006)     http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/bulletin/ww_en_db_cannabis_artikel.php?id=219#2
 
Marijuana Smoking Found Non-Carcinogenic        (news - 2006)
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/LungCancer/tb/3393
 
Pot Smoking Not Linked to Lung Cancer        (news - 2006)
http://www.entheology.org/edoto/anmviewer.asp?a=246
 
Large Study Finds No Link between Marijuana and Lung Cancer      (news - 2006)
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=large-study-finds-no-link
 
There Seems to Be No Link between Marijuana Use and Lung Cancer      (news – 2006)
http://news.softpedia.com/news/There-Seems-to-Be-No-Link-between-Marijuana-Use-and-Lung-Cancer-24575.shtml
 
Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Shows      (news – 2007)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm
 
Pot's Active Ingredient Halts Lung Cancer Growth, Study Says       (news - 2007)
http://www.illinoisnorml.org/content/view/529/27/
           
Marijuana Ingredients Slow Invasion by Cervical and Lung Cancer Cells
(news - 2007)     http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20071226/pot-slows-cancer-in-test-tube
 
Marijuana Helps to Combat Lung Cancer       (news – 2007)
http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Marijuana-Helps-to-Combat-Lung-Cancer-20045-1/
 
Marijuana May Fight Lung Tumors       (news - 2007)
http://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20070417/marijuana-may-fight-lung-tumors
 
Cannabis as a possible treatment for lung cancer       (news - 2007)
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2007/04/cannabis-as-a-possible-treatment-for-lung-cancer.ars
 
Marijuana Beneficial in Fighting Lung Tumors, Study       (news – 2007)
http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Marijuana-Beneficial-in-Fighting-Lung-Tumors--Study-20037-1/
 
Doubts about the role of cannabis in causing lung cancer.       (letter - 2008)
http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/32/3/815
 
Marijuana compound could stop aggressive cancer metastasis          (news - 2012)
http://in.news.yahoo.com/marijuana-compound-could-stop-aggressive-cancer-metastasis-064950912.html
 
Marijuana And Cancer: Scientists Find Cannabis Compound Stops Metastasis In Aggressive Cancers          (news – 2012) 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/marijuana-and-cancer_n_1898208.html
 
Can marijuana stop cancer?       (news – 2012)  
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/marijuana-and-cancer_n_1898208.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
 
Media Ignored Expert's Shocking Findings That Marijuana Helps Prevent Lung Cancer: Now It's Med-School Material        (news – 2012)                    http://www.alternet.org/drugs/media-ignored-experts-shocking-findings-marijuana-helps-prevent-lung-cancer-now-its-med-school?akid=9578.313040.yDVgGb&rd=1&src=newsletter732160&t=10&paging=off
 
Is Marijuana the Cancer Cure We've Waited For?           (news – 2012)  
http://www.empowher.com/cancer/content/marijuana-cancer-cure-we-ve-waited
 
Study: Smoking Marijuana Not Linked with Lung Damage             (news – 2012)
http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/10/study-smoking-marijuana-not-linked-with-lung-damage/
 
COX-2 and PPAR-γ Confer Cannabidiol-Induced Apoptosis of Human Lung Cancer Cells.       (abst – 2013)       http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23220503
 
"Miracle" Cannabis Oil: May Treat Cancer, But Money and the Law Stand in the Way of Finding Out         (news – 2013)  
http://www.sfweekly.com/2013-04-24/news/key-words-cannabis-oil-cure-cancer-constance-finley/
 
Federal Government Reports Marijuana Effective in Combatting Certain Cancers Reports ADSI            (news – 2013)     
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/51148243/ns/business-press_releases/t/federal-government-reports-marijuana-effective-combatting-certain-cancers-reports-adsi/#.UZVTrsphX5N
 
And to put the cherry on top, read this post!  
 
http://forum.grasscity.com/medical-marijuana-usage-applications/1130359-tumors-really-shrinking.html#post16220325
 
Now, hon, so this sort of thing doesn't happen again, how about you getting your very own copy of "Granny Storm Crow's List"? To get your free PDF copy, all you have to do is send me an email! Check out the bottom of my sig for my email addy. Then if you have a question , you can look it up!   No more waiting for someone to reply to your post! The current List is over 1000 pages of links, and some hotmail accounts have trouble with it. If you can, use a Gmail or Yahoo mail account- they can handle the List with no problems.
 
 
Granny  

 

   But you need 10 posts to send a PM.  Post a few more times! Or just send me an email- my addy is at the bottom of my sig!

 

this thread reminded me of some reasons why I love bud so much

 

 
 

 
After the info Granny and BadKat gave you, I'd be pretty sure that it's highly unlikely. Improved lung function? Cannabinoids inhibiting cancer cell growth? If anything, it seems that our favourite plant is good for your lungs

 

 

Im with you dude. I love smoking and being high. Un-fortunately many of the other replies to this post are false. Smoking weed DOES effect your lungs. Although not to the extent that cigarettes and tabaco products do, inhaling marijuana smoke into your lungs is not good for your respiratory system. Inhaling ANY type of smoke into your lungs can have effects. Fact is; is smoking any thing is bad for your lungs. Over all though, marijuana doesn't contain the harmful chemicals that destroy and break down your lungs like tobacco does. That being said, you really dont have a lot to worry about. But keep in mind that it is a possibility that your lungs and respiratory system have the possibility to be altered through smoking weed over time. 
 
For me I dont really care about its effects on my lungs. I am a healthy individual and i do not have any previous problems or weaknesses in my respiratory system and as long as you dont have any problems. Such as asthma or something like that, you should be fine!
 
Stay high my dude!

 

 
 The only studies we have on the topic, one of which that I mentioned earlier was the very largest of its kind ever performed on respiratory/lung health and happened to include cannabis smokers, all suggest that as a cannabis smoker (not just edible users or a vapers, both of which could only HELP, but even as a smoker), you are currently in a group that represents a safer, lower rate of disease occurrence across the board for all diseases tested for, when compared to not only tobacco users who do represent the highest disease occurrence of the three groups, but also when compared to NON-smokers and non-users of cannabis in general... if anything, that should make the non-smokers/users second guess their habits.
 
 We eat certain fruit and vegetable groups to receive certain nutrition to keep us healthy and disease-resistant / disease-free.
 
And as a species, prior to the last 80 - 90 years or so, cannabis was a major part of our diet. It was one of the earliest domesticated crops, we even developed some of our modern irrigation and farming techniques as we know them, on cannabis, thousands ago. Even now, it's known to be one of the most nutritionally complete food sources in terms of required nutrition, it contains ALL known amino acids including those necessary to human/mammal life that we can't synthesize on our own, and the levels, or the ratios of the vitamins, proteins and minerals it contains are VERY close to the exact ratios we require now, in order to maintain a balanced diet.
 Even before farming we spent thousands of years gathering and using cannabis, since times long before recorded history (recorded history is considered to be within the last 5-6,000 years, the earliest use of cannabis was found over 11,000 years earlier)... during that time, we evolved as a species with cannabis as a daily component in our lives.
 
 In all likelihood, and now according to some of the most modern studies we have, even smoking the stuff is healthier than not including it in your diet altogether.
 
 
Worried about respiratory health? Most gold medal winning Olympic athletes don't seem to have any issues. In fact, cannabis has recently been on their list of performance enhancing drugs, due to all the studies on the INCREASE in lung function that -pure- cannabis users attain! Maybe stop using those blunt wraps and rolling papers, and switch to a water pipe or better yet, a vaporizer, if you're having trouble. 
 
 
 
 If you're really worried, or if you're particularly sensitive to the byproducts of combustion, just switch to vaping and edibles.
 
You could even switch to smoking concentrates, just to eliminate any concern over all the inert and unnecessary plant matter while still doing the smoking you enjoy.

 

 
WORRY NOT, fellow stoney. I can't really say anything more than has been said, and It wouldn't be right for me to tread on Granny Storm Crow's wealth of knowledge. Remember, humans have grown alongside Cannabis for the last Ten Thousand years. So Much so that our brains have special receptors only for THC. Just get lost in the moment, listen to some music, and above all...
 
-stay high-