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A new study shows that vaporizing THC may be worse for teenagers than smoking marijuana or cigarettes, or vaporizing nicotine.
The findings from the University of Michigan indicate that when vaporizing marijuana, teenagers aged 12 to 17 are more likely to experience symptoms of lung injury, such as a dry cough or wheezing, which can impair sleep, speech or exercise. According to Carol Boyd, co-director of the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health at the University of Michigan, it is unclear how long these symptoms can last.
“We found out, and it was something that surprised us a little bit, that it was cannabis vaporized throughout life that was associated with a much greater number of symptoms and a greater likelihood of having each of these symptoms than using electronic cigarettes or electronic cigarettes, ”Boyd said, for US News. In this case, “lifetime” refers to any previous use.
The data contest popular thinking that smoking or smoking nicotine is worse for the lungs.
“I think the industry would probably like to show that vaporizing electronic cigarettes is healthier, that it is vaporizing cannabis that is causing these respiratory symptoms, not electronic cigarettes. This is not true. Electronic cigarette smoke also causes symptoms among young people, ”said Boyd. “However, in our study, and when we consider the use of electronic cigarettes, we found a greater chance of having these respiratory symptoms among young people who had vaporized marijuana.”
Vaporized cannabis has become more popular in recent years and was associated with a number of lung diseases and deaths before the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC found that the culprit was linked to vitamin E acetate, which “has been used as a cutting agent in THC-containing e-liquids,” writes Bloomberg.
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