Almost all young adults are aware of the consequences of smoking cigarettes on health. However, the risks associated with smoking marijuana and the effects it has on social smoking of tobacco products are far less known.
Marijuana is an illegal tobacco alternative that is used by some university students. Like cigarettes, marijuana contains many chemicals – specifically, up to 400 different chemicals can be found in marijuana.
Compared to smoking cigarettes, smoking a marijuana joint:
- Puts 5 times more carbon monoxide in your bloodstream
- Puts 3 times more tar in your lungs
In addition, smoking one joint is the equivalent to smoking 2.5-5 cigarettes with respect to decreased lung function and obstructing airflow. The smoke from marijuana joint contains 50-70% higher levels of cancer causing chemicals.
Compared to a cigarette smoker, someone who smokes five joints a week would be taking in as many cancer causing chemicals as a cigarette smoker who smokes a pack a day! People who use marijuana regularly are also more likely to become dependent on marijuana, and may experience irritability, anxiety, cravings, and sleep disturbances when they try to quit using marijuana. Since smokers are more likely to also become dependent on marijuana, avoiding the use of marijuana products when you are trying to quit smoking can increase your chance of success!
Do you want to try quitting, cutting back, or eliminating marijuana use when you drink alcohol? Register for the wouldurather... contest by January 27, 2014 and you could win $750!
References: Aldington et al. (2008). Cannabis use and risk of lung cancer: A case-control study. Eur Respir J, 31(2):280-286.
Rickert, Robinson & Rogers. (1982). A comparison of tar, carbon-monoxide and ph levels in smoke from marijuana and tobacco cigarettes. Can J Public Health, 73:386-391.
Swift et al. (2008). Adolescent cannabis users at 24 years: trajectories to regular weekly use and dependence in young adulthood. Addiction, 103:1361-1370.
Vandrey et al. (2008). A within-subject comparision of withdrawal symptoms during abstinence from cannabis, tobacco, and both substances. Drug Alcohol Depend, 92:48-54.
Wu et al. (1988). Pulmonary hazards of smoking marijuana as compared with tobacco. New Engl J Med, 318:347-352.
Do you want to try quitting, cutting back, or eliminating marijuana use when you drink alcohol? Register for the wouldurather... contest by January 27, 2014 and you could win $750!
References: Aldington et al. (2008). Cannabis use and risk of lung cancer: A case-control study. Eur Respir J, 31(2):280-286.
Rickert, Robinson & Rogers. (1982). A comparison of tar, carbon-monoxide and ph levels in smoke from marijuana and tobacco cigarettes. Can J Public Health, 73:386-391.
Swift et al. (2008). Adolescent cannabis users at 24 years: trajectories to regular weekly use and dependence in young adulthood. Addiction, 103:1361-1370.
Vandrey et al. (2008). A within-subject comparision of withdrawal symptoms during abstinence from cannabis, tobacco, and both substances. Drug Alcohol Depend, 92:48-54.
Wu et al. (1988). Pulmonary hazards of smoking marijuana as compared with tobacco. New Engl J Med, 318:347-352.
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