That's fair, I suppose. Still, even in a clean-air environment, studies from the UK suggest the maximum potential risk of COPD from heavy cannabis use to be no greater than 4.5%, when used alone. Your patients may be non-smokers, but do they live with smokers? Did they frequent night clubs in their youth? Have they attended a bonfire and stood downwind? Have they driven a car older than 1980? Have they been stuck in a traffic jam? Any of these things will cause greater exposure to more harmful substances than the inhalation of cannabis.

Either way there are negative side-effects from weed. Smoke inhalation is one of them if you are engaging in breathing in the smoke from burning leaves. I'm a supporter or smoking weed 100%. I believe it is a wonderful alternative compared to most pharmaceuticals, especially for those with cancer or nerve damage. I just think a lot of pot advocates go off the deep end snd get so slap happy they believe every positive written article or study that is published. And fyi to those that dont know, studies aren't always entirely factual. Statistics can easily be biased. Again, I support the use but I also don't ignore the negative facts.