Tuesday Aug 22, 2023
Lead: Perceptions of Safety of Daily Cannabis vs Tobacco Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure
Perceptions of Safety of Daily Cannabis vs Tobacco Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure, 2017-2021
JAMA Network Open
This study investigated perceived safety of cannabis vs. tobacco from 2017-2021 via daily smoking or secondhand exposure. The study found a significant shift in beliefs about the safety of daily smoking of cannabis vs. tobacco, with more than one-third reporting cannabis was safer than tobacco, and these numbers increased over time. Results were similar regarding secondhand cannabis smoke, with over 40% reporting it safer than secondhand tobacco smoke. Younger people and those who were unmarried were more likely to view cannabis as safer. A public health and regulatory response is therefore imperative to inform people of the known health risks associated with both daily cannabis smoking as well as secondhand exposure.