In a new study from the University of California, San Francisco, daily inhalation of cannabis may significantly increase the risk of developing serious lung diseases.
According to research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, people who inhale marijuana daily have a 44% higher risk of developing asthma and a 27% higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The researchers note that the true risk of COPD may be even higher, as the disease takes a long time to develop and the full history of cannabis use for the study participants was not available.
The study is based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which includes more than 380,000 adults. Of these, over 222,000 were non-smokers. This is the largest study to examine the link between inhaled cannabis and respiratory health in non-smokers.
Researchers state that the legalization of marijuana and the perception of it as a safe alternative to tobacco may have led many to underestimate the associated risks.
Scientists emphasize that reducing or avoiding cannabis inhalation is an important step for individuals who want to lower their chances of developing chronic lung diseases.
