According to a new study published in the journal Jamaica psychiatrylong-term consumption cannabis would have little impact on general health except for oral health.
Researchers from the University of Arizona (United States) followed more than 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to an average age of 38 years. They particularly followed those who regularly smoked cannabis at age 18 and continued to smoke for 20 years. They regularly reviewed their general health with a particular focus on oral health, lung function, systemic inflammation status, blood sugar and metabolic health.
Cannabis: no major health effects
The results are surprising: after controlling for other factors that may influence health such as tobacco use or socio-economic conditions, the researchers say that marijuana use has no major health effects except for oral health. Smokers had a higher incidence of periodontal diseases (gum disease).
Cannabis smokers have a lower BMI
Researchers also found that smoking cannabis provided better metabolic health since body mass index and smokers’ waist circumference is lower and their lipid profile (the ratio between good and bad cholesterol) is better. But the study was performed on too few participants to make cannabis a weight management tool.
Tobacco smokers are less healthy
“By comparison, tobacco use has been associated with poorer periodontal health, as well as worsening lung function, systemic inflammation, elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose in early 40s. . as well as to the decline of health between 26 and 38 years old” the researchers point out.
“The price to pay on health seems lower in cannabis smokers than in tobacco smokers”. A reason probably due to the difference between the number of joints and the number of cigarettes (which are counted in packs) smoked during a day.
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