A study at the University of Monash, Australia, found that lung disease can occur two decades earlier in marijuana smokers than in people who only smoke cigarettes; and the style of smoking is to blame.
Marijuana smokers inhale more and hold their breath four times longer than cigarette smokers, resulting in toxic exposure to the lungs and long-term exposure to the tobacco used to roll the joint.
Dr Matthew Naughton, lead author of the study, says that this type of breathing style increases the concentration and pulmonary deposition of inhaled particulate matter. The research showed this smoking style causes faster and greater lung destruction in research subjects.