Does Marijuana Contain Carcinogens Like Cigarette Smoke?

Apologies for the messed up way this is shown but the editor on this site really sucks. Please bear with me. Cannabis itself does not contain carcinogens. But any smoke from burning plant matter is going to contain carcinogens.118 carcinogens are produced when cannabis under goes combustion compared to 55 known carcinogens in cigarette smoke (20 of which are known to cause cancer).The problem with people saying cannabis smoke contains more carcinogens than cigarette smoke is this: When you smoke cigarettes you would typically smoke say, up to a pack a day. That can be 25 cigarettes in a day.People who smoke cannabis may smoke 1 cannabis joint and then they're done for the day (or night). If those people get a hold of very potent cannabis they will need to smoke say quarter of a joint to get the same effect as a whole joint of less potent cannabis which means less smoke, which means less carcinogens.So even if the amount of carcinogens in cannabis smoke is 5-7 times more than cigarette smoke then people smoking cannabis are still going to be taking in less carcinogens than a smoker.This can be further protected against by naturally grown cannabis and by using a water pipe or vaporizer. The volcano vaporizer has been scientifically tested to reduce the amount of carcinogens down to 2.It was found in 2007 that while tobacco and cannabis smoke are quite similar, cannabis smoke contained higher amounts of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and nitrogen oxides, but lower levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like Benzopyrene.Furthermore the effects of tobacco and cannabis smoking differ, however, as they affect different parts of the respiratory tract: Whereas tobacco smoke tends to penetrate to the smaller, peripheral passageways of the lungs, cannabis smoke tends to concentrate on the larger, central passageways. One consequence of this is that cannabis smoke, unlike tobacco smoke, does not appear to cause emphysema, though this claim is disputed.Even with the amount of carcinogens in raw cannabis smoke, a study in 2006 by the UCLA found no significant evidence linking cannabis smoke to lung cancer. In fact a theraputic effect may have been found with THC thought to cut off a tumors blood supply and cause programmed cell death where older cells die before they turn cancerous. Either way a 50% reduction of common lung cancer tumors has been scientifically attributed to cannabis as well as a proven reduction in metastasis or the spreading of cancer.So put that in your pipe and smoke it.Sources:<a href="http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/crtoec/asap/abs/tx700275p.html"/><a href="http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/91/14/1194"/><a href="http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378427402001340"/><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm"/><a href="http://www.truthaboutcannabis.org"/><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm"/><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_cannabis"/><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycyclic_aromatic_hydrocarbon"/> TinyMCE type editor on this site sucks completely.

When they grow tobacco they use pesticides. Then they filter the tobacco through literally 1000's of chemicals to make the smoke smoother and more addictive. Even the filter is bad for you and contains many chemicals. You have 100's of purposely added carcinogens to cigarettes. Marijuana is all natural, and although any smoke is certainly not healthy for the lungs marijuana isn’t safer because you smoke less but that it doesn’t contain a fraction of the chemicals in tobacco. Not one recorded death from marijuana ever.  No cancer nothing, if someone got lung cancer or any cancer from weed they would be all over it, the fact is it is just very safe, and it is illegal because pharmaceutical and major prison corporations pay congress to pass prohibition laws for massive profits.

I've read that it does contain carcinogens but THC cures cancer by destroying the cells so my question would be what would be the best way of getting the thc into your lungs without smoking the carcinogens (maybe a vaporizer or a bong because the water filters out a lot of the carcinogens)

Marijuana does contain carcinogens, roughly the same amount of carcinogens as tobacco. However, the THC in marijuanna smoke has anti-tumor properties. THC restricts the creation of bloodflow to feed tumors, as well as it kills genetically damaged cells that cause cancer. It can however cause lung irritation, and can cause respiratory ailments.

"The facts have been out since the 70's"

All I can do is laugh, if you did your research you'd learn that Nixon's war on drugs was specifically aimed at marijuana for the sole purpose of ending counter-culture protests.

Marijuana does not kill brain cells, its non-addictive, and it contains absolutely no carcinogens, these are indisputable facts.

Carcinogens come from your method of ingesting the marijuana, like comments above have said vaporizers and "special" brownies/muffins deliver marijuana to your system virtually carcinogen free.

Yes smoke from a marijuana cigarette contains 3 times more carcinogens than a regular cigarette. But they are a different type of carcinogen and affect different parts of the lung with varying degrees.

Studies show that certain properties of marijuana might even slightly reduce chances of getting lung cancer, but data definitely shows no correlation between heavy marijuana use and lung cancer

Ok, y'all--you have to come honest with yourself. Yes, marijuana has carcinogens--yes, it hurts your lungs.  I love it, I smoke it. But if that's true, I plan to quit one day. Let's be honest--stop trying to say it doesn't hurt because you want to smoke. Embrace the truth--it may hurt, but it's soooo good.  There are some wonderful benefits too. What scares me most is to get alzheimer's--I've done research that smoking the herb helps to prevent this.  Yes, for that, and many other things!  Happy blazin.... Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays

Lets be real....Marijuana does contain more Carcinogens than cigarets...Just a fact. So if you want to be dumb enough to poison your lungs over time...go for it.

"We discovered exactly what we thought we'd find in regards to tobacco coverage: A constant loss of lung function with raising exposure. We were, however, surprised that we found such a distinct pattern of organization with marijuana exposure...

An important factor which helps clarify the huge difference in results from both of these materials is the number of each that's generally smoked. Tobacco users generally smoke 10 to 20 cigarettes/day, and a few smoke a lot more than that. Grass drug user, typically, smoke only two to three times per month, so the typical exposure to cannabis is much lower than for tobacco...

"The facts have been out since the 70's"

All I can do is laugh, if you did your research you'd learn that Nixon's war on drugs was specifically aimed at marijuana for the sole purpose of ending counter-culture protests.

Marijuana does not kill brain cells, its non-addictive, and it contains absolutely no carcinogens, these are indisputable facts.

Carcinogens come from your method of ingesting the marijuana, like comments above have said vaporizers and "special" brownies/muffins deliver marijuana to your system virtually carcinogen free.

Yes smoke from a marijuana cigarette contains 3 times more carcinogens than a regular cigarette. But they are a different type of carcinogen and affect different parts of the lung with varying degrees.

Studies show that certain properties of marijuana might even slightly reduce chances of getting lung cancer, but data definitely shows no correlation between heavy marijuana use and lung cancer

ATTENTION! IMPORTANT: You're all idiots. Up in Smoke (article): "NIDA notes that marijuana smoke contains the same cancer-causing ingredients as tobacco. And it's often in higher concentrations too. Someone who smokes five joints a week takes in as many chemicals as another person who smokes one pack of cigarettes a day. Marijuana smokers also inhale more deeply than cigarette smokers and retain smoke in their lungs longer."

Marijuana doesnt have all that chemical crap that messes up your lungs like cigarettes.. People with cancer smoke marijuana.It helps with nausua and migranes etc.. Its natural come from mother earth no creepy guys in lab coats are chemically messing with it.  If you have to ask a question like this you probally shouldnt be doing it

People who say marijuana does not contain carcinogens are stupid. Don't talk about it if you don't know what you are saying. Do some research before you come top the table and make yourself look foolish

Okay For the people saying that were stupid for saying it doesnt have as many carcinogens are the stupid ones. You only know what was told to you as a scare tactic. Marijuana is way safer than cigarettes and isn't addictive. Thc actually destroys cancer cells. Maybe you are the one who should be researching

Yep

Marijuana does not contain carcinogens. It has never been know to cause cancer at all -as carcinogens such as are found in cigarette smoke are substances that are known to produce cancer.

Marijuana does not contain carcinogens in it.  The saying of it being "all natural" is pretty darn close.  The only way it may not be all natural is if someone uses a fertilizer to make it grow better or faster.  For the most part it won't hurt you, but if it is something you may be considering, don't over due it, I know many people that have let it over rule their lives.

No, depending on the source of the marijuana. It has nowhere near the carcinogens that tobacco has. Now it will produce carcinogens when smoked for the simple fact that act of burning something produces carbon. If you use a vaporizer it will not burn up the marijuana it will heat it up to 200 degrees and evaporate it. Which has almost 0 carcinogens.

Whoever says marijuana doesnt have carcinogens are stupid, do your research before you answer a question that requires knowledge not what you think. Marijuana has many more carcinogens then tobacco but marijuana has other chemicals that could prevent certain illnesses but can cause infection. Marijuana is not natural and is a drug because if it didnt do anything to someone noone would do it.

No there are no carcinogens in Marijuana... There have been studies that have shown this that were performed as a double blind and ended up being contrary to what they believed.   www.washingtonpost.com  - this isn't the actual study just a article posted on it