It seems a few tokes on a joint from time to time may not only be harmless but may even contribute to improved lung function. Researchers have discovered that a multitude of facets involving the function of lungs actually became slightly better as younger individuals reported partaking in higher amounts of marijuana, at a minimum of 2000 joints in a lifetime.
It is true that watching someone smoke marijuana may be a bit disconcerting as the person smoking may cough profusely after inhaling the smoke. However, there does not seem to be any sort of long term effects as a result of smoking the herb. For years people have been questioning the longer term dangers of smoking marijuana in relation to lung damage. These newer studies suggest the theory that marijuana will contribute to lung disease or conditions may hold no water.
Some studies done earlier have had mixed or conflicting results. Some of them have suggested that marijuana smoking increased the rate of oxygen flow to the lungs while others have not seen that evidence. Some studies have shown hints that possible harm could be eminent. The new studies seem to lean toward the studies that show favor in smoking marijuana where the lungs are concerned.
Even though marijuana does contain many of the same toxins that are found in tobacco smoke, people have a tendency to inhale fewer marijuana cigarettes each day. In addition, the practice of inhaling marijuana differs greatly than the method of smoking cigarettes, possibly offering a bit of protection to the lungs. These findings do not necessarily negate that there are other possible longer term effects on health but overall the findings were very optimistic for medical marijuana patients and recreational pot smokers.
One substance abuse researcher from Yale stated that a lot more would have to be done in the form of studies on marijuana effects before the medical community could release a blanket statement. This person was not a part of the studies in any way. The opinion was based on the fact that the study only covered a couple of pulmonary functions.
In studies conducted in several major US cities over a course of 21 years involving over 5,000 people under the age of 25, doctors looked at the way marijuana as opposed to cigarettes affected them. The participants lungs were also tested to see the maximum rate that air flow could emerge from the lungs and how much oxygen their lungs could actually hold.
The study showed that the lungs did actually improve slightly with marijuana smoked and declined significantly with cigarettes. Marijuana activists have been saying these things for years. Perhaps this study will serve to reassure people that marijuana is not quite as bad as originally believed in terms of the effects of the smoke. We seem to be years away from a total opinion on marijuana use but we have come a long way in the past couple of decades.