A member asked:

Help plz! can smoking weed lead to emphysema?

3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Very unlikely: VERY VERY heavy users of very potent marijuana (like ganja smokers in Jamaica who may smoke a half-ounce or more per day!!) can get bronchitis and emphysema, but it's hard to say because most of them also smoke cigarettes. Studies of long-term "social" smokers have not shown any changes in pulmonary function studies. Smoking is not the only cause of emphysema- alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Answered 6/7/2014

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Dr. Michael Sanders answered

Specializes in Pulmonology

See below: I've read mixed studies. Most of the studies that say no and that marijuana can actually help copd are from pro weed sources. The American Thoracic Society has a different take. It says marijuana can damage the lungs. There's the risk of causing bullae to develop and there's an additive effect with smoking cigarettes. My recommendation is to not inhale anything not needed.

Answered 5/18/2017

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