Scientists uncover concerning link between weed smoking and cigarette use in lung cancer risk

Many people believe that the negative effects of cannabis are far smaller than the tobacco-based equivalent, yet new research has shed light on a concerning detail that might make you think twice next time you light up.

It shouldn't shock you to learn that there's a strong link between smoking and lung cancer, with all forms of smoke – not just limited to tobacco cigarettes – creating a dangerous level of risk.

It's simply not good for your body and health to be inhaling that much vapour, especially when it has potentially harmful components inside, yet many people are still under the impression that some forms are better than others.

Part of this perception comes from the issue of legality, as there have been significantly more studies on tobacco than there have been on marijuana, and a myriad more cases relating to the former due to the increased level of access.

It shouldn't be a surprise that smoking weed is bad for your lungs, but a new study has revealed an unexpected danger (Getty Stock)

However, one study has proposed a different look at the dangers that weed smoking can possess, suggesting that it is actually more dangerous in some cases, and creating a concerning case for those who smoke both kinds concurrently.

As outlined in the European Respiratory Journal back in 2021, a letter to the editor from a number of scientists indicated that cannabis actually has a higher level of harmful chemicals than tobacco smoke, shattering preconceived understandings.

The risk that the drug poses to the body, however, is likely linked to the dosage that any one individual consumes on a regular basis, with higher rates proportionally increasing the damage that your body suffers.

Noting his interpretation in a blog via Keck Medicine, Brooks Undelsman, MD, outlines:

"So, if someone smokes marijuana occasionally once a week, once a month or a few times a year, do they still have that same risk? My suspicion is that there is probably minimal risk."

Dr Undelsman suggests that those who smoke weed on a regular basis are at a greater risk of developing cancer than standard cigarettes (Getty Stock)

Dr Undelsman continued to illustrate that "all we know right now is that people who smoke a lot of marijuana – to the point that they develop a dependency on it or require hospital care or evaluation for it – do appear to have a higher cancer risk."

This isn't the only issue associated with high levels of cannabis use, as only recently did the World Health Organization (WHO) classify a new medical condition relating to weed-induced illness known as 'scromiting', warning people that the drug might be more dangerous that it's broadly considered to be.