Tobacco Vs Marijuana:Health Risk Comparison

The number of cigarette smokers by far exceeds those who smoke marijuana (cannabis). Per day average consumption of cigarette is many times more. Cigarette is legal whereas marijuana has been categorized an illicit drug. A cigarette smoker is able to pursue routine work. Marijuana consumption leads to abnormal behavior patterns resulting in identification of the smoker as socially less acceptable than tobacco user.

Ammonia, tar and carbon monoxide and nicotine are found in all forms of tobacco. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). The number of marijuana smokers is on steady rise in the US, especially among the school going children.
Tobacco-Tobacco is consumed in the forms of cigarettes, cigar, spit and pipe tobacco which are made from dried tobacco leaves as well as ingredients added for flavor and other properties. About more than 4000 individual chemicals have been identified in tobacco. Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Smoking results in more deaths each year in the United States than AIDS, alcohol, cocaine, heroine, homicide, suicide, motor vehicle crashes and fires-combined. Each year about 440,000 people die in United States from illness related to cigarette smoking. Tobacco consumption leads to cancer of lung, larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and bladder.30% of cancer deaths are caused by smoking. 80% of lung cancer death are related to tobacco use. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic lung diseases - all leading causes to death. During pregnancy, smoking can result in miscarriages, premature delivery and sudden infant death syndrome.

Marijuana (Ganja)
Marijuana is most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. A dry, shredded, green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and the leaves of hemp plant.

Short term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety and panic attacks. THC suppresses neurons in the information processing system of the hippocampus. Lungs may have same respiratory problems as tobacco. Daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis and more frequent chest congestion. Regardless of THC content amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and level of carbon monoxide is three to five times higher than tobacco smokers. A study of college students has shown that critical skills related to attention, memory and learning are impaired among people who use marijuana heavily. The primary health problems associated with the drug are the possibility of respiratory disorders similar to those experienced by tobacco smokers. Marijuana is often smoked with tobacco ingredient which makes isolated study of the effects of marijuana more difficult.

Cannabis use in social settings can lead to increased talkativeness and infectious laughter followed by states of introspection and dreaminess. The user typically has a feeling of greater emotional and physical sensitivity that can include greater interpersonal empathy. (Hall;1998, Joy et al 1999)

Marijuana use can increase heart rate by 20-100% above baseline. Blood pressure is increased while the person is sitting and decreased while standing. The change from sitting to standing can cause faintness and dizziness due to change in blood pressure. In case of cigarette there is rise in blood pressure which subsides with the passage of time.

Frequent smoking may result in increased stable blood pressure. Adverse mood effects can occur, particularly in inexperienced users, after large doses of cannabis. Anxiety and paranoia are the most common of these effects include panic, depression, delusion and hallucinations(Adams and Martin 1996, Joy et al 1999).Cannabis produces dose related impairments in a wide range of behavioral and cognitive functions. These include slowing reaction time and information processing, and impairing perceptual and motor performance, tracking behavior and time perception(Chait and Pierri 1992).

Marijuana smoke contains many of the same components as tobacco smoke. As much as four times the amount of tar can be deposited on the lungs of cannabis smokers as cigarette smokers if a cigarette of comparable weight is smoked. This difference is probably the result of differences in the amount of consumption. Cannabis cigarettes usually do not have filters and cannabis smokers take a larger puff volume, inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers(Joy et al 1999) There is no conclusive evidence that cannabis causes cancer in humans including those cancers associated with tobacco use. ( Joy et al; Tashkin, 1999, hall 2001)Between the ages of 4 to 9 who have been exposed to cannabis in utero have shown deficits in sustained attention, memory and cognitive functioning. However these effects were small compared to tobacco. ( Fried 1998; Hall and Solowij 1998; Joy et al 1999)

Conclusion-Marijuana and cigarette smoking both are habit forming and poisonous intoxicants. Cigarette has more immediate health hazards whereas marijuana has disastrous behavioral consequences. These evils need an ongoing crusade through media, social awareness and governmental programs.