Why Marijuana Smoke Harm Reduction?
The waterpipe study was undertaken as a first step toward marijuana harm reduction. It was motivated by concerns that, like tobacco, marijuana smoking poses hazards to respiratory health, such as increased risks of bronchitis, lung infection, and throat and neck cancers. These hazards are not caused by the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana, but by noxious vapors and solid particles, or tars, in the smoke produced by leaf combustion. In practice, these hazards can be eliminated by oral ingestion. However, smoking remains the most popular mode of consumption on account of its faster action, greater convenience, and easier adjustability of dosage. Surveys indicate that some two or three million Americans are daily marijuana smokers. Thousands of other Americans are currently smoking marijuana for medical purposes in the treatment of cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and chronic pain and spasticity. To the extent their health is already compromised, such patients may be especially vulnerable to
