How harmful is Marijuana compared to Hookah and Cigaretts?

[Anonymous]

In details please.

[meowcow]

Not sure about the hookah, but the harm from nicotine and marijuana is fairly similar. I'll list the similarities and differences.

Both marijuana and tobacco come from plant leaves.
Both cause cancer as a result of the burning (pyrolysis) process, which generates carcinogenic chemicals known as benzo-a-pyrene. Virtually any form of burning carbon will produce these cancer causing chemicals. The problem comes when people inhale the smoke. The smoke particles deposit in the lungs and the chemicals are absorbed into the tissues. Also, the act of inhaling fine particulates is very bad for you. So in terms of cancer (usually lung cancer) both tobacco and marijuana are equally bad.

The difference comes in how much people smoke tobacco vs marijuana. You'll hear people say that marijuana is less damaging because it is not as strongly correlated with lung cancer vs tobacco smoking. This is the stupid blogger reading an article and not understanding the content. As I said, both tobacco and marijuana are equally carcinogenic, but tobacco smokers often go though 1-2 packs a day (20-40 cigarettes), so their dosage is very high. Marijuana smokers do not smoke 20-40 joints per day, but damage to the lungs is still being done all the same.

Marijuana smokers also show declines in IQ and cognitive ability with prolonged use. That is - people who smoke marijuana get dumber over time. Many studies suggest that this is more noticeable in young smokers whos brains are still developing, but I would think that the same applies to adults too - just to a lesser degree so it is harder to detect in studies.

Tobacco is also more addictive due to the natural nicotine content, but also from nicotine additives to the cigarettes. This is a form of chemical addiction where your body can suffer from withdrawals. Marijuana is not chemically addictive because it contains no nicotine or comparable chemical. However, there is a form of psychological addiction, where a pot smoker feels the need to smoke a joint in response to a specific stimulus (such as stress). It's kind of like an addiction to masturbating. You don't feel chemical withdrawals, but something compels you to do it anyway.

Lastly, marijuana is psychoactive, and distorts your perception of reality. You'll see lots of stories where people go a little nutso after eating pot cookies or smoking for the first time. It depends on the person and dose.

[Red_Arrow]

I'm not a proponent of marijuana use, but the info I have read contradicts some of what you said. Many studies have been done to learn the bad effects of marijuana, and so far, no causal links have been found between marijuana smoking and cancer. In fact, THC has been shown to cut tumor growth in lung cancer in half and reduces the ability of the cancer to spread.

It is thought that nicotine (found in cigarettes) could be the biggest cause of cancer from smoking. But there are many other toxic chemicals found in cigarettes (unbelievable how many) that probably also contribute to cancer, and these are not found in marijuana. So I cannot agree that marijuana is as dangerous (cancer-wise) as marijuana, even if one was to smoke 20 joints a day.

[meowcow]

@Red_Arrow

Thanks, much of what you've read is misinterpreted. The bad information is in the details.
Nicotine is not carcinogenic - meaning if you expose animals to nicotine only, they will not develop cancer. However, nicotine is a tumor promoter, meaning that it will accelerate cell growth (which is a stage leading up to cancer). The difference is that nicotine is a piece of the puzzle leading to cancer, while certain chemicals known as "ultimate carcinogens" such as benzo-a-pyrene are the entire puzzle and cause cancer all by itself. In combination with other substances, cigarettes contain both ultimate carcinogens and tumor generating chemicals. Marijuana contains does not contain carcinogens... until you burn it.

I know that you've read that cigarettes contain hundreds of chemicals. It's a scare tactic to the public. To the layperson, that sounds like a lot. The word "chemical" also has a bad connotation. A celery root contains thousands of chemicals too. Some perspective...

[Red_Arrow]

"I know that you've read that cigarettes contain hundreds of chemicals. It's a scare tactic to the public. To the layperson, that sounds like a lot. The word "chemical" also has a bad connotation. A celery root contains thousands of chemicals too." I am speaking of "added" chemicals, which are added to "enhance" the cigarette while it is manufactured. Been a while since I saw the list of added chemicals, but they were not something one would normally ingest.

[dartmaul15]

what @meowcow say is true. However the biggest risk with it isn't the health hazards, but that it's an entry level drug.
That means that it's a low power and easily acessible drug, that is often where hard drug addicts started. It is noticed for being possible to controll, but young age correlates with how likely you're to try harder drugs later.

Obviously a lot of people manage to controll it, but some move on. And that's the danger, especially if you're careless.

[Anonymous]

I'm no expert, but cigarettes have nicotine and are obviously addictive. Hookah, if you do the non-water vapor kind, also has nicotine and is addictive and bad for you, just maybe slightly less. And marijuana can also become addictive. If you're going to choose between marijuana and crack, marijuana is slightly better. But seriously, dont fuck your life up with any of this shit. Ok

[TravisG]

Marijuana is a plant. While cigarettes are made up bad chemicals. Hookah is bad because it's like smoking a cigar. And a cigar is like smoking 10 cigarettes. So I would prefer the plant over chemicals.

[meowcow]

Cigarettes are not plants? That's funny, I'm pretty sure tobacco leaves comes from plants.

[TravisG]

Yea but it's not just the leaves you are smoking. Why don't you look up all the chemicals they put in it. I don't need to do my homework on it because I don't smoke. But, I did of my homework on my Escalade Ext and 2014 Mustang. Thats a car and truck if you didn't know.

[Flex4Ever]

Just do yourself the favour of staying away from that low life shit. Don't plan to ruin your life already.

[Anonymous]

People who get addicted to marijuana are more likely to get into other drugs such as meth, heroine and cocaine.