Cigarettes vs. blunts: is one more harmful than the other?

There are clear differences between tobacco and marijuana, but there are some similarities. One of them is smoke, a harmful substance no matter how you look at it. Despite the contents of the wrapping paper, ingesting ash is harmful and can have ramifications later in your life.

But which is more harmful: cigarettes or blunts? There are some studies that look at both of them that find some differences that weigh something down when it comes to your overall health.

Tobacco is very carcinogenic

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When comparing cannabis and tobacco, cannabis is the clear winner. Tobacco is a potent carcinogen that is also very addicting. While cannabis can be addictive and toxic when ingested through smoke, your body is not exposed to the same amount of toxins as when you smoke tobacco.

Tobacco contains over 4,000 different chemical compounds, many of which are cancer-related.

Cigarettes are smoked more often than blunts

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Another disadvantage of cigarette smoking is related to the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Moderate cigarette smokers smoke 1 to 5 cigarettes a day. The more they consume cigarettes, the more likely they are to develop lung cancer and heart disease.

RELATED: What’s the Difference Between Spliffs, Joints, and Blunts?

While blunts are harmful and cause too much smoke, they are also consumed much less frequently. Unlike cigarettes, blunts are usually shared and not consumed on a daily basis.

But cigarettes have filters

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One thing that cigarettes don’t have is the presence of filters that can prevent the amount of tar and ash your lungs are exposed to. While the filter does very little to prevent cancer, it is a useful benefit. Blunts are larger and produce more ash and tar with no filters between them and your mouth.

At the end of the day, it’s all about personal preference. Butt smokers have an advantage over cigarette smokers because they can find other ways to consume cannabis. Also, light to moderate cannabis use has not been linked to lung cancer, so it’s important to stay moderate.