Cannabis smoking may contribute to lung disease, pneumothorax, infections, and possibly lung cancer
A review found emerging evidence that habitual cannabis smoking may contribute to COPD, pneumothorax, respiratory infections including tuberculosis, with biological plausibility for lung cancer risk.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The review examined evidence on respiratory effects of cannabis smoking, noting that mental health concerns had dominated cannabis research while lung effects received relatively little attention.
The authors found emerging concern that habitual cannabis smoking may contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and respiratory infections including tuberculosis.
Regarding lung cancer, the review noted that biological plausibility existed for an association (cannabis smoke contains carcinogens and causes cellular changes), even though epidemiological evidence had not yet definitively established the link. The authors suggested biological evidence may precede epidemiological confirmation.
The review emphasized that cannabis research was complicated by confounding from concurrent tobacco use and other social factors.
Key Numbers
The review discussed qualitative evidence across multiple respiratory conditions but did not report pooled risk estimates.
How They Did This
Narrative review by chest physicians examining epidemiological and biological evidence for respiratory effects of cannabis smoking, published in the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
Why This Research Matters
The review highlighted a gap between public perception of cannabis as safe and emerging evidence of respiratory harms, particularly relevant as cannabis smoking was widespread among young people.
The Bigger Picture
This review represented the perspective of chest physicians concerned that respiratory effects of cannabis were being overlooked while mental health effects dominated the research agenda.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review without systematic methodology. Many referenced studies were confounded by concurrent tobacco smoking. Epidemiological evidence for lung cancer specifically was acknowledged as incomplete.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will epidemiological studies eventually confirm the biological evidence for cannabis-related lung cancer?
- ?How much cannabis smoking is needed to meaningfully increase respiratory disease risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Biological plausibility for lung cancer may precede epidemiological confirmation
- Evidence Grade:
- Narrative review by clinical experts synthesizing emerging evidence, with acknowledged limitations in the underlying research.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2010. Research on cannabis and respiratory health has continued with larger studies since.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis and the lung.
- Published In:
- The journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 40(4), 328-3; quiz 333-4 (2010)
- Authors:
- Reid, P T, Macleod, J, Robertson, J R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00445
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can smoking cannabis cause lung disease?
The review found emerging evidence linking habitual cannabis smoking to COPD, collapsed lung, and respiratory infections. The evidence was complicated by the fact that many cannabis smokers also smoke tobacco.
Does cannabis cause lung cancer?
At the time of this review, biological evidence suggested cannabis smoke contains carcinogens, but epidemiological studies had not definitively established a lung cancer link. The authors suggested biological evidence might precede epidemiological confirmation.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- cannabis-cardiovascular-heart-risk-stroke
- cannabis-heart-cardiovascular-risk
- coughing-up-stuff-after-quitting-weed
- lung-recovery-after-quitting-smoking-weed
- lung-recovery-quitting-weed
- quitting-weed-female-hormones
- quitting-weed-weight-gain-loss-diet-appetite
- sex-after-quitting-weed
- weed-DUI-driving-impaired-cannabis-laws
- weed-acne-skin
- weed-fertility-sperm
- weed-gut-digestion-problems
- weed-heart-health
- weed-testosterone-levels
- how-to-tell-if-weed-is-moldy
- dry-herb-vape-vs-oil-vape-vs-disposable
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00445APA
Reid, P T; Macleod, J; Robertson, J R. (2010). Cannabis and the lung.. The journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 40(4), 328-3; quiz 333-4. https://doi.org/10.4997/JRCPE.2010.417
MLA
Reid, P T, et al. "Cannabis and the lung.." The journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 2010. https://doi.org/10.4997/JRCPE.2010.417
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis and the lung." RTHC-00445. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/reid-2010-cannabis-and-the-lung
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.