Cannabis and Our Lungs
-
If you could travel to the early 1900’s and walk into any pharmacy or Homeopathy Shoppe, you would find dozens of Cannabis tinctures on the shelves. These tinctures(made by Pharma), both Sativa and Indica, had 100 specific AMA approved medical indications. It was easy to medicate and few smoked cannabis.
After prohibition and the Stamp Act in 1937, these tincture bottles became old but beautiful and dry antique bottles. I have photos of these on the wall in my office.
So, as these tinctures went away, everyone smoked more and more, until smoking was felt to be the only way to medicate. Yes, there is vaporization and I always do encourage it as one of many options.
Tinctures are returning and on the shelves, at least in Venice, Ca, of most dispensaries. They work great, are available in both Sativa and Indica formulations, are subtle and particularly great during the daytime.
If you read Dr. Tashkin’s latest review of cannabis and lung cancer or COPD, he believes that cancer from cannabis alone probably does not cause lung disease. However, in large part he relates this to the amount of smoking one does. If a person is smoking 20 joints every day, I would advise them they ARE at increased risk. There is plenty of tar in cannabis. So, what to do? This is what I tell my patients:
1. Use all forms of the medication so that smoking can be more limited.
2. Whether or not smoking cannabis causes lung disease, smoking less and using tinctures gives the cannabis patient more freedom.
3. Try keep smoking to less than 5 joints daily. If more medication is needed, try, as possible to use edibles, tinctures, sub-lingual preps, vaporizing, etc. The reason I choose 5 joints is based upon Dr. Tashkin’s comments. He believes that on average 1 joint = 2 cigs. This is a guess. Anyway, that would be 1/2 pack of tobacco/day, which is below the toxic level for MOST patients.
4. If the patient develops a cough, they should cut back on smoking and try harder to switch to alternate forms.
5. Finally, as we study cannabis strains in the community, let’s add “tar” to the list. Perhaps we can begin to grow strains with less and less tar?
when you smoke too much, then you are at risk from lung cancer so stay away from developing a bad habit of cigarette smoking *:-
lung cancer could kill you in just a day so stop smoking as early as possible-,`
lung cancer is almost alway caused by heavy cirgarette smoking”`”
lung cancer can be avoided if you stay out of air pollutants like some chemicals and tobacco smoke.’,`
I have found giving them up is harder than you can imagine. I started cancer sticks when I was 14 years old. It was the hugest mistake I’ve made. Now I’m much older and I have chronic copd. I used a pile of the stopping tools but nothing helped me. My last try is the electronic cigarette in the end.
Lung Cancer scared the hell out of me that is why i do not smoke cigarettes anymore.`*;
Very nice information. Thanks for this.