"Smoke is smoke. Both tobacco and marijuana fume impair blood vessel function similarly. People should avoid both, and governments who are protecting people confronting secondhand smoke exposure should include marijuana in those rules."
-Matthew Springer, cardiovascular researcher and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Facts about secondhand marijuana fume:

  • Marijuana smoke is created by burning components of plants in the genus Cannabis.
  • Secondhand marijuana fume is a complex chemical mixture of smoke emitted from combusted marijuana and the smoke that is exhaled past the user.
  • Secondhand marijuana smoke contains fine particulate matter that tin can exist breathed deeply into the lungs.
  • Secondhand marijuana fume contains many of the same cancer-causing substances and toxic chemicals every bit secondhand tobacco smoke. Some of the known carcinogens or toxins nowadays in marijuana smoke include: acetaldehyde, ammonia arsenic, benzene, cadmium, chromium, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, isoprene, lead, mercury, nickel, and quinoline.i
  • Marijuana smoke contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the agile chemical in cannabis.

Health risks of exposure to secondhand marijuana fume:

Since marijuana is illegal under federal law, in that location have been a express number of studies examining health risks associated with marijuana use and exposure in the United States. Health risks from primary and secondhand smoke exposure may too be difficult to decide as marijuana is often used in combination with tobacco.

Nevertheless, peer-reviewed and published studies do indicate that exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke may take health and safety risks for the general public, peculiarly due to its similar limerick to secondhand tobacco smoke.

  • Secondhand smoke from combusted marijuana contains fine particulate matter that can be breathed deeply into the lungs,ii which can cause lung irritation, asthma attacks, and makes respiratory infections more likely. Exposure to fine particulate matter tin can exacerbate wellness problems especially for people with respiratory conditions similar asthma, bronchitis, or COPD.iii
  • Particulate levels from secondhand marijuana fume are fifty-fifty college than particulate levels from secondhand tobacco fume. A study comparison indoor particulate matter 2.v (PM2.5) levels from secondhand marijuana fume and secondhand tobacco smoke concluded that "the average PM2.five emission charge per unit of the pre-rolled marijuana joints was establish to be 3.5 times the average emission rate of Marlboro tobacco cigarettes, the about popular United states of america cigarette brand." Smoking a marijuana joint indoors can produce extremely high indoor PM2.v concentrations, thereby exposing the public and workers to unsafe secondhand marijuana smoke emissions.four
  • On-site consumption of cannabis using electric vaporizers, vape pens, and dab rigs produces a chemical aerosol that pollutes indoor air to unhealthy levels. This macerated air quality was observed when marijuana was non being combusted on-site. Researchers measured high levels of PM2.5 inside a marijuana retailer that allowed vaporizing, dabbing, and vaping marijuana – but did non allow smoking of marijuana or tobacco.v
  • Significant amounts of mercury, cadmium, nickel, lead, hydrogen cyanide, and chromium, likewise as 3 times the amount of ammonia, are found in mainstream marijuana smoke than is in tobacco smoke.vi
  • In 2009, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment added marijuana fume to its Proffer 65 list of carcinogens and reproductive toxins, also known equally the Condom Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. It reported that at least 33 individual constituents nowadays in both marijuana fume and tobacco smoke are Proposition 65 carcinogens.vii, viii
  • Secondhand smoke from marijuana has many of the same chemicals as smoke from tobacco, including those linked to lung cancer.ix
  • Secondhand marijuana exposure impairs blood vessel function. Published studies on rats show that thirty minutes of exposure to secondhand marijuana fume at levels comparable to those found in restaurants that allow cigarette smoking led to substantial impairment of blood vessel function. Marijuana smoke exposure had a greater and longer-lasting effect on blood vessel role than exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.x
  • One infinitesimal of exposure to marijuana SHS substantially impairs endothelial function in rats for at least xc minutes, considerably longer than comparable impairment by tobacco SHS. The findings in rats suggest that SHS can exert similar adverse cardiovascular effects regardless of whether it is from tobacco or marijuana.xi
  • Secondhand marijuana fume and secondhand tobacco fume is like in many means. More than research is needed, merely the current body of science shows that both tobacco and marijuana fume have like chemical composition and suggests that they may accept harmful cardiovascular health effects, such as atherosclerosis (partially blocked arteries), center attack, and stroke.xii
  • Particle concentrations from dabbing and vaporizing cannabis can create levels of indoor air pollution like equally those seen in extreme air pollution events like wildfires and severe industrial pollution. Exposure at these concentrations can cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease.xiii
  • People who are exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke can take detectable levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in their blood and urine.fourteen
  • Marijuana also tin can be contaminated with mold, insecticides or other chemicals that may be released in secondhand smoke.15

Including Marijuana Smoking in Smokefree Public Identify and Workplace Laws:

  • Everyone has the right to breathe smokefree air. Smokefree policies are designed to protect the public and all workers from exposure to the health hazards caused by exposure to secondhand tobacco fume. The same should be truthful for secondhand marijuana smoke.
  • The per centum of U.S. adults who use marijuana more than doubled from 4.one% to 9.5% between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013,xvi which may likewise indicate an increase in exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke.
  • The American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Ac Engineering (ASHRAE) is the organization that develops engineering standards for edifice ventilation systems. ASHRAE now bases its ventilation standard for adequate indoor air quality on an environment that is completely free from secondhand tobacco fume, secondhand marijuana fume, and emissions from electronic smoking devices.xvii
  • In society to protect public health, improve consistency, and assistance enforcement, smokefree laws for public places and workplaces should include tobacco as well equally marijuana, whether it is smoked or aerosolized. Allowing marijuana smoking in places where smoking is now prohibited could undermine laws that protect the public from exposure to secondhand smoke. The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium issued an informative brief on Lessons from Tobacco Command for Marijuana Regulation.xviii
  • Smokefree policies provide incentives to quit smoking, assist denormalize smoking behavior, and are particularly effective amid youth and immature adults who are vulnerable to visual cues and social norms of smoking. It is likely that smokefree policies for marijuana will have a similar effect.
  • Every bit of February, 2022, 825 localities and 34 states/territories/commonwealths restrict marijuana utilise in some or all smokefree spaces. Of these, 443 localities and xx states/territories/commonwealths prohibit smoking and vaping of recreational and medical marijuana in one or more than of the following venues: not-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, confined, and/or gambling facilities.

In the interest of public health, the use of combustible or aerosolized marijuana should be prohibited wherever tobacco smoking is prohibited.

ANR Foundation's Position on Exposure to Secondhand Marijuana Smoke:

Marijuana smoke is a form of indoor air pollution. Therefore, ANR, our lobbying organization, includes marijuana within the definition of smoking, and all of our model laws and policies include a prohibition on smoking marijuana wherever smoking of tobacco products is not immune. Our organization does non accept a position on whether marijuana should be legalized; we are committed to smokefree protections from secondhand smoke from tobacco products, marijuana and aerosol from electronic smoking devices.

Nobody should have to exhale secondhand marijuana smoke at work, in public, or where they live. If we desire salubrious, smokefree air for workers and the public, then products like marijuana and electronic smoking devices (which can be used to "vape" a wide range of substances, including marijuana and hash oil) must non be used in smokefree environments where others are forced to breathe the secondhand emissions.

In the interest of public health, the utilize of combustible or aerosolized marijuana should be prohibited wherever tobacco smoking is prohibited.

ANR Foundation'south Position on Exposure to Secondhand Marijuana Smoke:

Marijuana smoke is a form of indoor air pollution. Therefore, ANRF includes marijuana within our definition of smoking, and all of our model laws and policies include a prohibition on smoking marijuana wherever smoking of tobacco products is non allowed. ANRF does not have a position on whether marijuana should be legalized; however ANRF is confronting smoking in ways that harm other people. In states where marijuana is legalized, marijuana utilize should be prohibited in all smokefree spaces.

Nobody should accept to breathe secondhand marijuana smoke at work, in public, or where they alive. If we want good for you, smokefree air for workers and the public, and then products similar marijuana and electronic smoking devices (which tin be used to "vape" a wide range of substances, including marijuana and hash oil) must not be used in smokefree environments where others are forced to exhale the secondhand emissions.

May be reprinted with appropriate credit to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.
Copyright 2022 American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation. All rights reserved.a

REFERENCES

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  2. Hillier, FC.; et al. "Concentration and particle size distribution in smoke from marijuana cigarettes with unlike Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol content." Fundamental and Applied Toxicology. Volume 4, Issue 3, Part one, June 1984, Pages 451-454. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0272059084902021
  3. "Air and Wellness: Particulate Matter." National Environmental Public Wellness Tracking Network, U. Southward. Environmental Protection Bureau. http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showAirHealth.activeness#ParticulateMatter
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  5. Murphy, Thou.B.; Huang, A.S.; Schick, South.F., "PM2.five concentrations in a cannabis shop with on-site consumption," Environmental Health Perspectives 129(vi), June xvi, 2021.
  6. Moir, D., et al., A comparison of mainstream and sidestream marijuana and tobacco cigarette smoke produced under two machine smoking conditions. Chem Res Toxicol 21: 494-502. (2008). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18062674
  7. "Prove on the Carcinogenicity of Marijuana Smoke." Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Co-operative, Function of Ecology Health Hazard Assessment, California Ecology Protection Agency. August 2009. http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/hazard_ident/pdf_zip/FinalMJsmokeHID.pdf
  8. Wang, X., et al., "Brief exposure to marijuana secondhand smoke impairs vascular endothelial function" (conference abstract). Circulation 2014; 130: A19538. http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/Suppl_2/A19538.abstract
  9. "Evidence on the Carcinogenicity of Marijuana Smoke." Reproductive and Cancer Take chances Assessment Branch, Part of Environmental Health Risk Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency. August 2009. http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/hazard_ident/pdf_zip/FinalMJsmokeHID.pdf
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  12. Springer, One thousand.Fifty.; Glantz, Southward.A." Marijuana Use and Heart Disease: Potential Effects of Public Exposure to Fume," University of California at San Francisco. April 13, 2015. https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/sites/tobacco.ucsf.edu/files/u9/MSHS%20fact%20sheet%20for%20CA%204-thirteen-15.pdf
  13. Jaques, P, Zalay, 1000, Huang, A, Jee, Grand, Schick, SF "Measuring Aerosol Particle Emissions from Cannabis Vaporization and Dabbing", Proceedings of the 15th Meeting of the International Lodge for Indoor Air Quality and Climate. July 22-27, 2018. Philadelphia, PA.
  14. Herrmann ES, et al., "Non-smoker exposure to secondhand cannabis fume II: Event of room ventilation on the physiological, subjective, and behavioral/cognitive effects." Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2022 Jun i;151:194-202. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25957157
  15. UCDavis Researchers, research letter of the alphabet published online in the periodical of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, "A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana" April 2017Volume 23, Issue iv, Pages 269–270 https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/commodity/S1198-743X(16)30605-X/pdf
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