Secondhand Marijuana Smoke May Damage Blood Vessels More Than Tobacco Smoke
Researchers also found the mere burning of the plant material appears to cause the impaired blood vessels — not chemicals like nicotine and tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, nor rolling paper.
The increasing number of states legalizing medicinal and recreational marijuana, along with increasing potential for corporate expansion within the cannabis industry, makes it important to understand the health consequences of secondhand marijuana smoke exposure, Springer said
“There is widespread belief that, unlike tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke is benign,” he said. “We in public health have been telling the public to avoid secondhand tobacco smoke for years. But we don’t tell them to avoid secondhand marijuana smoke, because until now we haven’t had evidence that it can be harmful.”
The study is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
