Can you use cannabis if you have asthma?

This marijuana fact sounds like nonsense.

Medical marijuana can feel scary, especially since society has been telling us for decades that it’s dangerous.

I’ll never forget the first time I heard that asthmatics may benefit from marijuana–I didn’t believe it, but after I started seeing changes in my own asthma attacks, I realized there was something to it.  After a little looking, I found significant research documenting cannabis’s potential for asthmatics.

Marijuana’s effects on the lungs surprised me.

As long as I can remember, my inhaler has been a daily part of my life.  When I decided to try medical marijuana, I was concerned about my asthma.  I settled on a vaporizer to avoid carcinogenic smoke.  Still, logic told me that inhaling a foreign substance may aggravate my breathing – after all, perfume does, cleaning products do, and even cold air has a detrimental effect.

Imagine my shock – My asthma actually improved.

I’m not recommending cannabis as an asthma treatment.  I am saying is asthma isn’t necessarily a contraindication for medical marijuana. Asthma patients simply need to be conscientious about the administration. Avoid smoke if possible. A vaporizer may or may not aggravate asthma as well. Sublingual and oral administration are options as well.

Asthma & Bronchodilators

Inflammation and muscle spasms throughout the airway cause asthma symptoms.  An inhaler is a bronchodilator, it opens the airways allowing oxygen to move into the lungs more efficiently.  Some strains of marijuana are also potent bronchodilators.

Marijuana effects on the lungs

Here’s some of the research that supports.

• May 2014 – The British Journal of Pharmacology: Marijuana causes bronchodilation.
• May 2012 – The Journal of the American Medical Association: Marijuana use does not increase the risk of adverse pulmonary effects.
• April 2009 – The Canadian Medical Association Journal: Marijuana does not increase the risk of respiratory disease.
• May 1973 – The New England Journal of Medicine – Marijuana is a bronchodilator.

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