According to the American Lung Association, smoking cannabis is a dangerous activity due to the risks it poses to your lung health. This includes all variations of cannabis smoking, such as paper-wrapped marijuana cigarettes (blunts), bongs, and pipes, along with any other device that creates vapor or heat that you inhale. The decline in regular cigarette smoking notwithstanding, inhaling marijuana impacts your lungs with many of the same toxins and carcinogens as regular cigarettes. In fact, because marijuana smoking typically involves a deeper inhale and holding the smoke in your lungs, smoking marijuana can create an even greater tar build-up compared to smoking cigarettes.
A 2013 study published in the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society revealed that one possible condition that you can develop when smoking marijuana is chronic bronchitis due to ciliary loss. Cilia are the hairlike projections in your lungs that help remove debris and mucus, meaning that smoking marijuana can increase mucus in your airways. Additionally, the study showed that marijuana smokers are at an increased risk of developing pneumonia. That being said, the researchers note that the benefits derived from smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes may outweigh these risks.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).