Can smoking marijuana one to two times a week cause me to get polycythemia?

Polycythemia: Smoking anything deprives the body of oxygen and stimulates production of more red cells in compensation. Your doctor can order a carboxyhemoglobin level to see if this is an issue for you. There are numerous other causes of polycythemia: sleep apnea, benign and malignant tumors, and a bone marrow condition known as polycythemia vera. A high red cell count should be evaluated by a hematologist.