VAPORIZED POT EASIER ON LUNGS, RESEARCHERS SAY

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -- Users of marijuana who vaporize the drug
have fewer lung symptoms than those who smoke it, researchers report.

Researcher, Dr. Mitch Earleywine concluded that the argument that the
medical use of cannabis is inappropriate because of its potential to
create (lung) problems is now invalid. Regular users of joints,
blunts, pipes, and water pipes might decrease respiratory symptoms by
switching to a vaporizer.

Earleywine, of the State University of New York, Albany and colleagues
note that marijuana smoking can lead to respiratory trouble. However,
vaporizers heat cannabis to release the psychoactive ingredients, but
remain cool enough to avoid the smoke and toxins associated with
combustion. To investigate what impact this might have, researchers
examined Internet survey responses from people who had used marijuana
in the previous month.

Respondents who had cystic fibrosis or asthma or reported oral
ingestion as their primary means of cannabis use were excluded, as
were those who had inhaled other drugs. Of the 6,882 marijuana users
included in the study, only 152 (2.2 per cent) reported vaporizing as
their primary method of cannabis use.

However, 100 of these users -- nearly 66 per cent -- reported no
respiratory problems compared to 56 per cent of those who did not use
vaporizers.

These data, in conjunction with previous work, Earleywine said, show
that people can use cannabis without fear of respiratory problems.