Second Hand Weed Smoke, Cause for Concern?

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Second Hand Weed Smoke, Cause for Concern?

DC has legalized weed and people are able to smoke comfortably in their own homes.  While smoking is great, there are some risks to second hand smoke that we should be aware of.  Secondhand smoking is the inhalation of weed smoke by people who do not smoke. It is important to understand who is around you when you do go to light up.  People who do not smoke do not necessarily want to smell or inhale the smoke coming from you.  It is important that you are respectful to those around you when you smoke weed in D.C.

If you live with a cannabis smoker, it can be important to lay some ground rules.  Some people do not allow their peers to smoke inside, however, if you do, there are some ways that you can still stay safe.  Most easily, just open a window to give the weed smoke a place to escape.  Therefore, it will not sit in one room where someone may inhale second hand smoke by accident.

What is Considered Secondhand Marijuana Smoke?

Marijuana smoke is produced when a marijuana plant is burned. The smoke contains fine particulates that are absorbed into the lungs. It contains tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Secondhand marijuana smoke is similar to tobacco smoke in its makeup. Although secondhand marijuana smoke doesn’t cause a high in most people, it is still recommended to keep yourself and others away from people who smoke marijuana.

A recent study on weed smoke and nonsmokers

A recent study updated our understanding of how weed smoke affects nonsmokers. The findings may have implications for driving and drug use. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine studied marijuana smokers and nonsmokers in an acrylic-walled room. The marijuana smokers smoked ten high-potency cannabis cigarettes throughout two sessions. In one session, the room was ventilated; in the other, the ventilation was turned off.

The researchers found that passive exposure to marijuana smoke may cause nonsmokers to experience the psychoactive effects of THC. However, the level of intoxication is lower in nonsmokers than in smokers. These findings were based on simulated environments; however, they could apply in real-world environments.

weed smoke contains hazardous fine particles and toxic chemicals. Secondhand marijuana smoke is likely not harmful but can cause minor effects. It will not cause harm if you are with your friends in a normal house or outdoors, but we suggest that you keep your windows open if you want to be cautious.

Secondhand Smoke for Children

Studies have shown that children are more vulnerable to secondhand smoke than adults. This is because they are younger, smaller, and weaker support systems than adults. Additionally, their immune systems aren’t as developed as adults are.

Secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous for children since their lungs are still developing, and they are more sensitive to the effects of smoke. It increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children, including pneumonia and bronchitis. It is important to make sure that you are not smoking anywhere around children especially indoors.  As a rule of thumb, we suggest that you do not smoke around children outdoors either.  This will ensure that all children are safe while you enjoy your weed.

Things to keep in mind

There’s no way to know the risks of secondhand weed smoke, but there are some general guidelines you can follow to ensure your family is safe.  Setting up fans inside to circulate the air will definitely help.  Additionally, you can install HEPA air filters in your house to remove the harmful particles in the air.  Make sure you are staying up to date on changing of your filters so that the machine can constantly work for you. Alternatively, you can turn on ceiling fans to diffuse the smoke.

Summing up:

While the dangers of secondhand weed smoke are low, it is important to understand the effects. The evidence shows that marijuana smoke can cause contact highs in nonsmokers if they are in an unventilated area. The risk of contact high increases with proximity to the smoker, and the level of THC in the smoke increases.  If you take necessary precautions including smoking in a well-ventilated room, use a air filtration system, or smoke outside you should not have problems with secondhand smoke.  It is important that you stay and maintain respect to those around you always, as weed smoke is a happy and social time and should not cause anyone else headaches.