This article compares the effects of smoking tobacco and marijuana. Both are harmful and addictive. So, if you are a regular user of either tobacco and marijuana, read on to learn more about how your deadly habit might ultimately affect you.
Both Can Cause Cancer
Tobacco causes more than 400,000 deaths annually, due to cancers and heart, lung and related diseases. Marijuana is a commonly abused illegal drug. In fact, marijuana contains greater amounts of carcinogens than tobacco.
Both Cause Respiratory Problems
Both tobacco and marijuana cause similar damage to lung immunity, pulmonary function and the airways. Research has revealed that heavy smokers of marijuana are increasing their utilization of health care services to treat their respiratory problems.
Both are Highly Addictive
As informed earlier, both tobacco and marijuana are highly addictive. In fact, both are among the hardest substances to quit. Relapsing smokers often get back to using marijuana first. The amount of nicotine content in tobacco is variable. In marijuana, THC is the active ingredient that gives smokers their desired high. The content of THC varies between 3%-29%.
Deadly Effects of Marijuana and Tobacco
Tobacco use by women can cause birth abnormalities in babies. Marijuana can lead to shorter pregnancy duration, and lower birth weight. Babies exposed to marijuana in the womb have a much higher risk of contracting leukemia.
Perceived Uses of Marijuana and Tobacco
Many tobacco smokers say it helps them lose weight and to deal with anxiety and stress. In the U.S., there is a strong movement supporting legalization of medicinal marijuana. Thus, despite their acknowledged health consequences and toxicity, both tobacco and marijuana have their supporters. But, no major medical organization has supported the use of either tobacco or marijuana for any purpose.
Tobacco and Marijuana Lobbies
The tobacco lobby is aggressive, well funded and powerful. It fights attempts to control, tax or regulate the use of tobacco and cigarettes. The marijuana lobby is similarly well organized and funded. It disseminates misinformation that marijuana is not harmful and should be legalized for medicinal and general use. “Experts” in both lobbies continue to deny that the use of these two dangerous substances can cause health problems.
Relatively speaking, the only reason why marijuana and related drugs have caused less health impact is because they are illegal. So, lawmakers and health officials should take lessons from the mistakes in handling tobacco, and ensure they are not repeated while handling the case of marijuana and other illegal drugs.
