PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Secondhand smoke from cigarettes is known to cause respiratory problems in children and vulnerable adults. Now, the legalization of marijuana is leading to a similar impact.
As barriers to the legalization of cannabis are removed, individual physicians and medical societies are issuing stern warnings that the inhalation of marijuana has as aggressive of an impact as inhaling tobacco smoke.
Another concern is vaping, which causes an intense concentration of superheated poisons that have been linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease.
A recent report from Wake Forest University has linked secondhand exposure of marijuana to significant respiratory issues in young children as well as vulnerable adults. Marijuana use among parents and caregivers in the home represents a growing public health issue, and the future health, social and economic impacts are important to recognize.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.