Vaping lung disease is less likely in these states, finds a new study

In what felt like a different life, before the COVID-19 outbreak, there was another type of lung disease that affected the majority of people. Vape users, especially those who consumed cannabis, suffered from a disease called EVALI, which caused respiratory and gastrointestinal discomfort. The disease can lead to long-term lung damage or even death.

And now, a recent study shows that states with legal marijuana programs had fewer reports of the disease.

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The study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence and conducted in collaboration with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, showed that EVALI was much less available in states where cannabis was legal for medicinal or recreational use. In 2019, states with marijuana laws had 42% fewer cases of EVALI.

“Marijuana policy attributes associated with lower EVALI incidences were also associated with a lower likelihood of vaping as a primary use,” the study concludes. “Since additives in vapor concentrates from informal sources could drive future EVALI cases, marijuana policy design should take into account the impact on usage in legal and illegal markets to limit the scope of future outbreaks.”

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EVALI first appeared in 2019 and caused a kind of panic in the vaping community, especially as vape pens became more common. After some study and research, the disease has been linked to an element in cannabis vapes known as vitamin E acetate, although other compounds and elements could also have an impact.

This study is a great example of the importance of legal cannabis. Aside from the usual reasons like reducing the effects of the drug war and creating new opportunities for medical help, legal cannabis significantly reduces the extent and harm of illegal and black market cannabis. As long as cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, unsuspecting people will continue to be harmed by these preventable situations.