Study Shows Toxins in Marijuana Smoke Levels of Some Toxins
Higher in Pot Cigarettes Than in Tobacco Cigarettes, Experts Say
Dec. 14, 2007 -- New research from Canada shows that some toxins
may be more abundant in marijuana cigarettes than tobacco
cigarettes. The researchers burned 30 marijuana cigarettes and
30 tobacco cigarettes on a machine in their lab, measuring
levels of chemicals in the smoke. Ammonia levels were up to 20
times higher in marijuana smoke than in tobacco smoke. Levels of
hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen-related chemicals were three to
five times higher in marijuana smoke than in tobacco smoke. The
nitrogen-based fertilizer used on the marijuana plants -- which
all came from the same batch of Canadian pot plants -- may have
affected the results. The temperatures used to burn the
cigarettes may also have been a factor. Marijuana smoke and
tobacco smoke shared many of the same chemicals. But the two
types of smoke weren't identical. For instance, marijuana
doesn't contain nicotine. And tobacco