Marijuana pulmonary

Tashkin, D.P., Shapiro, B.J., and Frank, I.M. Acute pulmonary physiologic effects of smoked marijuana and oral A -tetrahydro-cannabinol in healthy young men. N. Engl. J. Med. 289 336-341, 1973. 

Hypersensitivity reactions are rare, but a few have been reported after inhalation. Delayed hypersensitivity reactions, particularly affecting vascular tissue, have been recorded with chronic systemic administration. Tumor-inducing effects are difficult to attribute to cannabis alone. Animal studies have shown neoplastic pulmonary lesions superimposed on chronic inflammation, but such pathology may be primarily associated with the tar produced by burning marijuana. The most serious potential adverse effects of cannabis use come from the inhalation of the same carcinogenic hydrocarbons that are present in tobacco, and some data suggest that heavy cannabis users are at risk of chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer. 

Ali SF, Bailey JR, Slikker W Jr. Marijuana exposure and 32. pulmonary alterations in primates. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1991 40(3) 637-42. 33. 

Wu TC, Tashkin DP, Djahed B, Rose JE. Pulmonary hazards of smoking marijuana as compared with tobacco. N Engl J Med 1988 318(6) 347-51. 

An 18-year-old man experienced sudden and severe chest pain while drinking alcohol. He vomited, collapsed, and died. On postmortem examination, thrombosis of the left coronary artery, dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure, and pulmonary embolism were noted. Blood analysis showed raised cocaine and marijuana concentrations and a trace of alcohol. 

Roy PE, Magnan-Lapointe F, Huy ND, Boutet M. Chronic inhalation of marijuana and tobacco in dogs pulmonary pathology. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1976 14(2) 305-17. 

C. other health problems include salmonellosis and pulmonary aspergillosis from use of contaminated marijuana. Marijuana may be contaminated by paraquat, but the latter Is destroyed by pyrolysis and there have been no reports of paraquat toxicity from smoking marijuana. 

Infection risk A 56-year-old woman with underlying COPD, a past cigarette smoker and current cannabis smoker, had multiple pulmonary nodules seen in a routine chest X-ray [19 ]. Biopsy of the nodules showed cavitary lesions and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergillus can be found in samples of marijuana and chronic cannabis use probably predisposed her, perhaps owing to impairment in mucociliary activity and alveolar macrophages function. While prior reports of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis have been documented in immunocompromised individuals who use cannabis, she was not immunocompromised. 

Pulmonary Effects - Asthma - Three groups published last yesir on the pulmonary effects of marijuana. In one study > of nine, normal volunteers with previous marijuana smoking experience, airway resistance (measured in a body plethysmograph) fell 3S% and specific airway conductance increased kh% at a dose of yg/kg. This effect was accompanied by a 28% increase in heart rate. At a dose of 32 yg/kg, there was no increase in heart rate but there were significant changes in airway dynamics. 

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