PSA: Don’t Smoke Those Stems
The following are some facts about smoking cannabis stems.
1) Smoking Cannabis Stems Causes Cancer!
Cannabis stems contain high levels of carcinogens such as tar, carbon monoxide, lead and other toxins. These compounds have been linked to cancer in animals.
When smoked or vaporized they cause lung damage and even death due to emphysema (smoke inhalation).
2) Smoking Cannabis Stems Can Cause Lung Damage!
When inhaled, cannabis smoke contains large amounts of harmful chemicals. They include many carcinogenic substances such as benzopyrene and benzo[a]pyrene.
Benzopyrene causes cancer when inhaled into the lungs. Benzo[a]pyrene is known to cause respiratory problems, including bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia.
3) Smoking Cannabis Stems May Be Harmful To Your Health!
Smoking cannabis stems may cause damage to your lungs. You could develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can result in shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing up blood.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the leading causes of death among adults aged 20–64 years in the United States.
4) Smoking Cannabis Stems Makes You Feel Blah!
Smoking cannabis stems can make you feel physically terrible. This is especially true if you’re susceptible to respiratory problems (like asthma or bronchitis).
5) It’s easy to tell if your lungs are being damaged by smoking cannabis stems.
A sore throat, wheezing and an ongoing feeling of tightness in the chest are all signs that your lungs are being harmed by the smoke. If you notice these symptoms on a regular basis, it’s time to stop smoking cannabis stems altogether.
6) Many Cannabis Users Believe They’re Getting Stoned Off Leftover SMOKE!
Many inexperienced cannabis users believe that they’re getting stoned off of leftover plant matter and discarded ashes. They assume they’re not inhaling burned up smoke and toxic chemicals.
This is a dangerous misconception.
7) You can get high off of other things!
There are many ways to consume cannabis without the potential risks of smoking. These include: edible products, tinctures, topicals, and vaporizing (which isn’t smoking).
8) There are still risks when you consume cannabis products other than smoking.
Consuming edible cannabis may make you feel “high” and/or “stoned”. Edibles can take up to two hours to kick in (depending on the product and your physiology).
Edibles can also make some people feel ill (in case you eat too much).
Many herbal vaporizers have cracked heating coils. These devices release toxic chemicals (like vinyl) into the air.
Other herbal vaporizers have safer built-in atomizers. These are better choices for those who want to avoid smoking.
9) It’s still important to remember that inhaling ANYTHING isn’t good for you!
Anytime you burn organic material, you’re releasing a toxic cocktail of chemicals. Many of these chemicals are carcinogens or otherwise unhealthy for you.
This is true whether you’re smoking the cannabis flower, the stems, or the ash (as some people do).
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