Two-thirds of NYC public housing residents reported secondhand marijuana smoke exposure | Research

The takeaway

In New York City subsidized housing, 67% of residents reported smelling marijuana smoke in their homes over the past year, exceeding cigarette smoke exposure (60%), with nearly two-thirds perceiving secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful.

Public housing residents, housing policy administrators, and public health officials.

67% reported secondhand marijuana smoke at home

What the researchers found

67% of residents reported smelling marijuana smoke in their home over the past year, compared to 60% for cigarette smoke. Smoking status and smelling secondhand tobacco smoke were both strong predictors of smelling secondhand marijuana smoke. Nearly two-thirds of residents perceived smoking marijuana and secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful to health.

Why it matters

As marijuana use increases, secondhand exposure in shared housing environments becomes a growing concern, particularly as smoke-free policies may not address marijuana smoke.

The numbers in context

1,030 participants from 21 buildings. Response rates: 35% NYCHA, 32% Section 8. 67% smelled marijuana smoke. 60% smelled cigarette smoke. ~2/3 perceived secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey of residents in 21 subsidized housing buildings in NYC: 10 NYCHA buildings (n=559) and 11 Section 8 buildings (n=471). Surveys collected April-November 2018, prior to smoke-free housing policy implementation.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-reported exposure (smelling smoke, not biomarker-verified). Low response rates (32-35%). NYC housing may not represent other settings. Cross-sectional design.

How to read the evidence

Cross-sectional survey with self-reported exposure and moderate response rates.

When this study was published

2020 study using 2018 survey data.

The bigger picture

Smoke-free housing policies being implemented in public housing authorities target cigarette smoke but may not explicitly cover marijuana smoke, creating a regulatory gap.

Questions still open

Should smoke-free housing policies explicitly include marijuana? Would edible or vaporized cannabis reduce secondhand exposure in multi-unit housing?

Common questions

Is secondhand marijuana smoke common in apartments?

In this NYC survey, 67% of subsidized housing residents reported smelling marijuana smoke in their homes over the past year, a higher rate than cigarette smoke (60%).

Do people think secondhand marijuana smoke is harmful?

Nearly two-thirds of residents surveyed perceived smoking marijuana and smelling secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful to health.

Read the original research

Self-reported Secondhand Marijuana Smoke (SHMS) Exposure in Two New York City (NYC) Subsidized Housing Settings, 2018: NYC Housing Authority and Lower-Income Private Sector Buildings.

Journal of community health, 45(3), 635-639

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Anastasiou, Elle; Chennareddy, Sumanth; Wyka, Katarzyna; Shelley, Donna; Thorpe, Lorna E. (2020). Self-reported Secondhand Marijuana Smoke (SHMS) Exposure in Two New York City (NYC) Subsidized Housing Settings, 2018: NYC Housing Authority and Lower-Income Private Sector Buildings.. Journal of community health, 45(3), 635-639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00783-x