Does Marijuana Lead to an Increase in Breathing Problems Such as Asthma and Emphysema - Research Paper Example

?Topic: Does marijuana lead to an increase in breathing problems such as asthma and emphysema. Introduction: Marijuana as a medicine was popular in ancient times around the world. This fact is evident on the ancient tombs dugged up in Egypt. While evidences abound that Chinese people in ancient times have extensively use marijuana as herbal medicine, which to this date is being practice. However, despite the ancient evidences of the healing wonders of marijuana, its usage in our current history is unlawful mainly due to its psychoactive substance which are considered hallucinogens and addictive. However, despite its usage had been categorized unlawful in almost all of the countries all over the world, there are still medical practitioners and herbalist both on the east and western part of the world who continue to study and experiment both its healing components and its negative impact on human health. One field of study, where medical practitioners have dealt on studying the effects of marijuana is on the human’s respiratory system. To this date, there remains a 2 counterposing argument on marijuana use with regards to lung related health problems .On one side, claims that marijuana increases breathing problems for patients suffering from asthma and emphysema patients. While the other side claims the opposite. This paper will present primarily the other and non psycho active components of marijuana and will proceed in presenting the positive impacts of marijuana use to patients suffering from asthma and the less likelihood of marijuana users acquiring emphysema. Components of Marijuana Marijuana is more commonly known as ganja, dope, grass, pot, weed or draw among its users. It could be brewed together with tea, added in food but it is more popularly used as a cigar .It could be smoked in 3 different ways : first as a Joint: a cigarette containing a mixture of tobacco and marijuana., second as a Blunt: an empty cigar casing (tube) which contains marijuana only and lastly as a Bong: a water pipe through which marijuana smoke is inhaled. The most commonly known compound of Marijuana is ‘delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol’ or ‘tetrahydrocannabinols’ or ‘THCs’, which is a psychologically active compound. However there are 483 other chemical substance or compound that could be found in marijuana, which are non psychoactive and could be found in other herbal plants as well. Sixty six (66) of the 483 chemical substance are unique to marijuana and these are called cannabinoids (CBD). According to some studies, when CBD and THC are combined they offers analgesic effects to patients suffering from chronic pains. According to an article published by Americans for Safe Access called "Research: Definitions and Explanations," other non-active components of the cannabis plant include: nitrogenous compounds, amino acids,proteins ,glycoproteins, enzymes , sugars and related compounds ,hydrocarbons, simple alcohols, aldehydes ,ketones , simple acids , fatty acids , simple esters , lactones, steroids, terpenes, non-cannabinoid phenols, flavonoids , Vitamin A, pigments, and elements. Marijuana and Asthma Currently, in United States alone, about 4,000 patients with asthma die annually (Grinspoon), Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation and narrowing of airways.It causes of wheezing or a whistling sound asthma patients breathe , chest tightness, shortness of breath, and  coughing. The coughing and wheezing usually occurs at night or early in the morning (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute) . What causes asthma entirely still need to be established. Some studies have attributed it to genes which makes it hereditary, respiratory infection caught during childhood, exposure to allergens and/or viral infection in early childhood and inherited tendency to develop atopy. (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute). As early as 1970’s experiments and studies have been conducted on the relationship vis a vis effects of marijuana use to asthma. Some claims that marijuana use, causes and aggravates asthma. However, contrary to popular belief , clinical research have shown that THC – a popular substance found in marijuana - acts as a bronchial dilator. Another study showed that though THC inhalation caused broncho constriction ,it was limited to a very few patients. Moreover,the effect of 2 percent THC in smoked marijuana or 15 mg of THC taken orally have the same effect as common bronchodilator drugs such as salbutamol and isoprenaline (Grotenhermen). In another study conducted in 1975 on the effects of smoking marijuana among subjects who were subjected into an experimentally induced asthma, marijuana used through smoking by the subjects had “an immediate reversal of the exercise –induced asthma and hyperinflation” (Tashkin,Shapiro,Lee and Harper). In another testimony, a young woman who uses marijuana with her doctor’s approval had very few asthma attacks and was almost cured with the use of low dose inhaled cannabis smoke. (Editorial, The Lancet) As early as mid-1970s US professor Donald P Tashkin who made a study among healthy young people found that smoking marijuana are causing acute bronchodilation . Currently, Dr.Freund of Hungary and Danielle Piomelli is spearheading researches on their respective countries on the effects of cannabinoids on bronchular contstriction (Welch). Doctors from the Institute of Experimental Medicine in Budapest, Hungary and University of California, who are studying the medical properties of marijuana found that anandamide, a substance that has similar properties of cannabinoids have reversed the induced bronchular constriction among animals who were subjected to the experiments. Dr. Freund who is currently initiating the experiments in his laboratory in Budapest the effects of anandamide , is specifically studying the effects on nerve fibers in easing the muscles and eventually reduce substances that creates muscle constriction. (Welch). In another study on the effects of marijuana on respiration, done by Dr. Leo Hollister, subjects showed bronchodilation after marijuana use. The smoke of marijuana was calculated to deliver 85 or 32 µg of THC per kg. Subjects were deliberately induced to asthma through inhalation of methacholine and exercise . Afterwhich they were treated with smoke derived from marijuana cointaining 1 g of THC. The marijuana smoke successfully reversed the effect of methacoline and exrcise induced asthma. In furtherance of his study, Hollister tested another 10 asthmatic patients, this time using salbutamol and THC on patients. On both cases, the patients showed improvements, however salbutamol provided a more rapid result (Hollister). Marijuana and Emphysema Emphysema is a long term, and progressive lung disease. It involves damage to the air sacs (alveoli) and the capillary blood vessels in the lungs. The air sacs of people suffering from emphysema are unable to completely deflate, therefore prohibiting the filling of fresh air in the lungs which ensures adequate oxygen supply to the body (Wedro). Medical practitioners points to smoking (whether tobacco or marijuana) , as the main cause of emphysema. Smoking activates inflammatory cells in the lung. This inflammation causes swelling within the bronchioles, and activation of enzymes called proteases which attack the alveolar wall structures (Wedro). As in the past and present, there had been several studies conducted to establish the relationship of marijuana and emphysema. In a recent study conducted by the New Zealand Medical Research Institute, spearheaded by Sarah Aldington, found that marijuana damages the lungs, however it does not increase the risk of developing emphysema among its users (Lilley). The study which was conducted over a period of 3 years involved 339 subjects who were non smokers, tobacco only smokers ( should have smoked a pack of cigarettes per day in the last 5 years) , tobacco and cannabis smokers and cannabis only smokers ( should have smoked one cannabis joint per day in the last 5 years).The study reveals that one stick or a joint of marijuana indeed obstructs the flow of air in the lungs. However, statistics shows that only 1.3% of the long-term pot smokers were found to have signs of emphysema. Moreover, it was found out among marijuana users it’s their fine airways which are crucial for inhaling oxygen and removing carbon dioxide that are damaged (Lilley). More carbon monoxide and tar are inhaled when smoking marijuana compared to tobacco smoking ,because marijuana users inhales and holds the smoke longer for a better hit. Furthermore, marijuana cigarettes usually do not have filters, and have shorter butts thus its smokes are hotter or it is smoked directly through pipes (Lilley). However in another study conducted by Dr.Martin Johnson of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Glasgow in Scotland among 4 men, did not conclusively showed that marijuana smoking may lead to emphysema. The 4 men who were subjected in a study are regular marijuana smokers, and they were found out to have developed emphysema in the upper areas of their lungs. The 4 men are not tobacco smokers but smokes marijuana through pipes for several years. The men were found to have bullae (cysts) in the upper areas of their lungs (Tracey). However, Dr. Johnson admitted that the bullae found in the 4 men could not be solely attributed to marijuana use. In a more controversial note, Dr. Tashkin’s written report discussed in the 1976 Conference on Potential Cannabis Medical Dangers in Rheims, France claimed that in the 29 areas of the human’s pulmonary system, only 1 area, which is the large passageway which is found to be 15 times irritated to marijuana than tobacco. But marijuana has positive effect in most areas of the lungs (Herer). Moreover, when Dr. Tashkin reviewed his several studies on emphysema and marijuana use, he too was amazed to find out that very few of his subject have aggravated emphysema due to marijuana, on the contrary some have benefitted in the use of marijuana due to the dilation of bronchial passages brought by marijuana use (Herer). In the book “The Emperor Wears no Clothes”, Herer wrote that marijuana flowers are far less carcinogenic that tobacco leaf and more importantly, these carcinogens can be removed if the marijuana flowers are consumed through a water pipe system. Conclusion From the perspective taken from the studies and experiments done by medical practitioners as reviewed through in this paper, it is inconclusive to say that the use of marijuana can lead to or aggravate emphysema and asthma which is associated to breathing problems. Moreover, the studies conducted on the relationship of marijuana and asthma; seemingly points to a different conclusion, that is marijuana use had been an effective agent in bronchodilation which is important to asthma patients, an effect that is achieved similarly when using salbutamol. As for emphysema studies, even recent studies on the relationship of marijuana use and emphysema could not claim that patients acquired the disease solely by using marijuana. References: 1.http://www.budapestsun.com/  2.http://www.rxmarijuana.com/lisa.htm 3.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html 4.Grotenhemen, Russo.Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential. Hawthorn Integrative Healing Press, 2002 5. http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/hemp/medical/hollisterhealth.htm 6. http://www.cannabis-med.org/studies/ww_en_db_study_show.php?s_id=57 7. http://www.druglibrary.net/schaffer/hemp/medical/therappos.htm 8. http://www.medicinenet.com/emphysema/article.htm#tocb 9. http://www.thestar.com/article/241863 10.Herer Jack. The Emperor Wears No Clothes . Ah Ha Publications,1998 Read More