Cannabis smoking is not associated with an elevated risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) even among those possessing a clinically high risk for developing the disease, according to a study, Impact of Marijuana Smoking on COPD Progression in a Cohort of Middle-Aged and Older Persons, published in the journal of the COPD Foundation.
COPD, which refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, makes breathing difficult for the 16 million Americans with this disease.
Older Adults, Longterm Smokers
Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) evaluated the relationship between cannabis use and the development of COPD in a cohort of older subjects who either smoked cannabis now or who smoked cigarettes on a regular basis in the past.
The researchers determined that neither former nor current cannabis smoking was associated with evidence of COPD progression or its development.
Background: Limited data are available regarding the impact of marijuana smoking impact on the development or progression of COPD in middle-aged or older adults with …