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Stronger Cannabis is Safer Cannabis
- Effects of varying marijuana potency on deposition of tar and delta9-THC
in the lung during smoking.
- Matthias P, Tashkin DP, Marques-Magallanes JA, Wilkins JN, Simmons MS, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine,
Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
To determine whether smoking more, compared to less, potent marijuana (MJ)
cigarettes to a desired level of intoxication ("high") reduces pulmonary
exposure to noxious smoke components, in 10 habitual smokers of MJ, we
measured respiratory delivery and deposition of tar and
delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) boost, smoking
topography, including cumulative puff volume (CPV) and breathholding time,
change in heart rate (deltaHR) and "high" during ad lib smoking of 0, 1.77,
and 3.95% MJ cigarettes on 3 separate days.
At each session, subjects had
access to only a single MJ cigarette. On average, smoking topography and
COHb boost did not differ across the different strengths of MJ, while THC
delivery, as well as HR, were significantly greater (p < 0.01) and tar
deposition significantly less (p < 0.03) for 3.95% than 1.77% MJ. Although
individual adaptations in smoking topography for 3.95% compared to 1.77% MJ
were highly variable, three subjects with the lowest 3.95% MJ:1.77% MJ
ratios for CPV also displayed the lowest 3.95% MJ:1.77% MJ ratios for tar
deposition. In vitro studies using a standardized smoking technique revealed
a mean 25% lower tar yield from 3.95% than 1.77% MJ (p < 0.05), but no
difference between 1.77% and 0% marijuana. Under the conditions of this
study, we conclude that tar delivery is reduced relative to THC content in a
minority of subjects, and this reduction appears to be due to a reduced
intake of smoke (decreased CPV) and/or a reduced tar yield from the stronger
MJ preparation.
- Further Reading
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