Study shows it poses a THC or nicotine risk

While marijuana use is on the rise and nicotine looks like yesterday, a study shows that THC, or nicotine, is riskier for teens. The study, conducted by the University of Michigan and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, examined the association between respiratory symptoms in adolescents who used cigarettes and e-cigarettes containing THC and/or nicotine oil.

Using survey results, researchers found that teens ages 12 to 17 were at higher risk of suffering lung damage from dry cough, wheezing, and other symptoms that affected speech, sleep, and movement when smoking cannabis. The extent and duration of these symptoms are unknown.

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“We found, and this surprised us a little, that lifetime cannabis smoking was associated with a far greater number of symptoms and a higher likelihood of having each of those symptoms than e-cigarette or cigarette use.” lead author Carol Boyd told US News.

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The survey results were compiled from December 2016 to January 2018, before the emergence of EVALI – the vaping illness that affected a large percentage of consumers. Boyd explained that some of the symptoms reported in the survey were likely related to EVALI, which primarily affected THC vape users.

E-cigarettes and e-cigarettes are relatively new technologies that, while eliminating lung irritants like smoke and paper, add a variety of harmful elements and chemicals that are not yet fully understood. As for this survey, the final data contradicts the common belief that vaping and smoking nicotine is more harmful to the lungs than vaping and smoking THC.

RELATED: As teen use increases, study shows e-cigarettes damage lungs

“In short, it’s all bad, but if you also smoke cannabis, you have a greater number of unhealthy respiratory symptoms than if you just smoke cigarettes or marijuana or smoke e-cigarettes,” Boyd said. “There is no doubt that cigarettes and e-cigarettes are unhealthy and not good for the lungs. However, vaping marijuana seems to be even worse.”