“What's unique about this study is that there hasn't been anything comparing the imaging findings in tobacco smokers to cannabis smokers before."-Dr. Giselle RevahResearchers have found cannabis smokers have a higher rate of emphysema and airway diseases compared to cigarette smokers. The findings, published in Radiology, examined the chest CTs of 56 cannabis smokers, 57 non-smokers and 33 tobacco-only smokers between 2005 and 2020. 

They found higher rates of paraseptal emphysema and airway inflammatory changes, such as bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, and mucoid impaction in the cannabis smokers. “What's unique about this study is that there hasn't been anything comparing the imaging findings in tobacco smokers to cannabis smokers before. In fact, there is a lack of imaging research in cannabis, probably because it's still illegal in many parts of the world.” 

Despite the small sample size, Dr. Giselle Revah’s findings suggest that cannabis smokers saw additional effects on the lungs above tobacco alone, including more instances of large and small airways diseases. See press release, and coverage in CNN, NBC News and Forbes. 

Co-authors: Luke Murtha, Paul Sathiadoss, Jean-Paul Salameh, Matthew D. F. Mcinnes, Giselle Revah.