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Does Exposure to Cannabis Smoke from Others Pose Health Risks?

By Ann Mazotta, California Business Journal

In 1998, Ross Rebagliati won the gold medal in men’s giant slalom snowboarding at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. However, he faced medal disqualification the day after his victory due to a positive marijuana test, which showed 17.8 nanograms in his system, slightly exceeding the 15-nanogram limit at that time.

Rebagliati argued that the positive test resulted from inhaling secondhand smoke at a pre-Olympics party the night before he departed for the Games. After a contentious appeal, Rebagliati was ultimately reinstated with his gold medal. Nevertheless, this incident raised questions about the potency of secondhand cannabis smoke.

Beyond accidental intoxication, secondhand exposure to cannabis smoke carries respiratory risks. Let’s examine the effects of secondhand cannabis smoke, how it compares to secondhand tobacco smoke, and whether second hand cannabis vapor poses any health concerns.

To access the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for managing medical conditions in Newport Beach, it is essential to obtain your medical marijuana card first. To get your medical cannabis card you can contact an MMJ doctor.

Dangers Linked to Exposure to Secondhand Cannabis Smoke

Research indicates that secondhand cannabis smoke poses two notable risks to non-smokers. Firstly, individuals who are not actively smoking but inhale secondhand marijuana smoke may experience mild THC intoxication. Secondly, cannabis smoke contains a multitude of various chemicals and particulates (tiny matter particles) that can be harmful to those who inhale it, whether directly or as secondhand exposure.

Can Secondhand Smoke Result in a Contact High?

In 2014, a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins conducted a study to investigate the effects of secondhand cannabis smoke on individuals who did not smoke.

The study involved placing six cannabis smokers and six non-smokers inside a small sealed chamber for three one-hour sessions.

In the first session, the chamber had no ventilation, and the smokers were given joints containing 5.3% THC to smoke.
In the second session, the chamber remained unventilated, but the smokers consumed joints with 11.3% THC.
During the final session, ventilation fans were activated in the chamber while the smokers once again consumed joints with 11.3% THC. The ventilation system was designed to simulate typical home air-conditioning conditions following HVAC-building standards.

The study’s results highlighted two key factors: both ventilation and THC potency influence whether non-smokers register positive on marijuana drug tests.

During the first session, one non-smoker produced a positive drug test with THC levels around 20 nanograms/mL (although this is notably lower than the federal cutoff for a positive screen, which is 50 nanograms/mL). In the second session, four non-smokers recorded positive tests, even up to 22 hours after exposure.

Interestingly, no participants in the third session (the ventilated session) had positive tests, demonstrating that room ventilation played a role in reducing secondhand smoke exposure. Further analysis revealed that individuals exposed to secondhand smoke during the first two sessions experienced mild cognitive impairment.

Nonetheless, the researchers themselves acknowledged that the conditions in the first two sessions of the study were somewhat exaggerated. One of the researchers described these test conditions as a “worst-case scenario” because such circumstances were highly unlikely to occur without the individual being aware of them. In essence, the study assessed the potential for secondhand smoke intoxication by creating an extreme situation that was improbable in real life.

The study’s conclusion also conceded that under more typical circumstances, non-smokers testing positive for drugs would be unlikely. Positive results would be limited to the day immediately following exposure and would only occur when exposure to secondhand smoke was exceptionally high (such as being in a closed room with no ventilation). Therefore, the findings from the third testing session are likely the most relevant to real-life situations: In a ventilated, air-conditioned room, individuals exposed to secondhand cannabis smoke would not test positive for THC.

Research indicates that cannabis can be beneficial in addressing various medical conditions such as chronic pain, insomnia, migraines, Alzheimer’s, and more. If you are experiencing migraines and reside in Newport Beach, you have the option to legally access cannabis as a treatment for your medical condition. Applying for your marijuana recommendation Newport Beach can be conveniently done online. Obtain your cheapest medical marijuana card online today, ensuring that you meet the qualifying conditions set by the state for medical marijuana.

Comparing Secondhand Cannabis Smoke to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke

There’s a common belief that marijuana smoke is less harmful than tobacco smoke, with up to 27% of young adults considering secondhand exposure to cannabis smoke as safe. However, research indicates that both secondhand cannabis and tobacco smoke can trigger asthma attacks, lung irritation, and respiratory infections.

Interestingly, cannabis smoke may generate more particulate matter than tobacco smoke. In a 2022 study on bong smoking, researchers found that bong smoke produced four times as much particulate matter as cigarettes. This elevated level of air pollution could potentially contribute to various health issues for those exposed to secondhand smoke, including the smokers themselves.

However, studies also suggest that tobacco smoke, whether firsthand or secondhand, is significantly more carcinogenic than cannabis smoke. Cannabis smoke hasn’t been definitively linked to tobacco-related cancers such as lung, colon, or rectal cancer.

One theory posits that tobacco smoke is more likely to cause lung cancer than marijuana smoke due to the potential beneficial effects of compounds found in the cannabis plant. The pharmacological properties of cannabinoids in cannabis may reduce carcinogenic activity in several ways. For instance, THC can inhibit the activity of certain enzymes necessary to activate the cancer-causing components of smoke. Nevertheless, more extensive clinical studies comparing cannabis and tobacco smokers are required to gain a deeper understanding and confirm this hypothesis.

Dr. Caplan emphasizes that much of the research on the risks of secondhand tobacco smoke has been loosely applied to secondhand cannabis smoke without sufficient evidence.

“Regarding chemical constituents, nicotine is a toxic substance with numerous adverse effects, including promoting cancer, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular damage, and various other physical, mental, oral, reproductive, and addictive consequences,” he stated. “While these effects are believed to be associated with cannabis, the supporting evidence is considerably less definitive.”