In a great showing of ignorance and delusion, many adults think marijuana, both smoking and as secondhand, is safer than inhaling tobacco despite the fact that studies have repeatedly shown the dangers are the same, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Multiple studies have shown that tobacco and marijuana smoke contains the same toxic and carcinogenic particles as well as similar damaging cardiovascular effects including respiratory disease and vascular disease.

The study was based on a survey of 5,035 individuals’ perceptions of tobacconist and marijuana in the years of 2017, 2020, and 2021. They found more than a third of the participants thought marijuana was safer in 2017 and through 2021, the number of people who held this perception increased. Similar observations was seen in the perception of secondhand smoking of those two substances.

Unfortunately, facts go against these views and evidence has shown that smoking marijuana is just as bad as smoking tobacco. Harms of marijuana smoking include respiratory disease, cardiovascular diseases, peripheral vascular disease, excessive nausea and vomiting, and severe psychiatric problems.

Don’t be fooled by people’s false claims to justify getting high. Marijuana is just as bad for you as cigarettes, with certain consequences that can be worse.

J Chambers et al. Perceptions of safety of daily cannabis vs tobacco smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, 2017-2021. JAMA Network Open. 2023. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.28691