If you've visited California in the past twenty years or so, then you've probably seen your fair share of carcinogen warning signs.
Under the statues of Proposition 65, state laws require businesses and that have been known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. If any trace of said harmful chemicals exist in a building in California, you're bound to know about it. Warning signs must be placed in highly-visible areas near entrances and exits. The penalties for non-cooperation are severe.
Each year, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), a subsidiary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, publishes a revised list of all the chemicals deemed to put the Californian public at potential risk.
Guess what substance made the list this year?
That's right, good old medical marijuana. More specifically, marijuana smoke.
On June 19th, the jolly green giant joined an illustrious collection of death-dealing chemicals, amongst them asbestos, carbon monoxide, isoprene, mustard gas, vaporized unleaded gasoline and tobacco smoke.
It's no secret that smoking marijuana could be a potential cause of cancer- but then again, it could be argued that smoking anything can give you cancer. So here's a solution, straight up:
Don't smoke pot.
These days, medical marijuana can consumed in a myriad of forms. Vaporizers, candies, canned drinks, even topical sprays are all very excellent ways to medicate- and all infinitely healthier than sparking up that big fatty.
Marijuana smoke, you see contains up to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Users of marijuana almost invariably inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco fiends, which results in an extended exposure to the harmful chemicals inherent in the smoke.
However, there is no rock-solid evidence linking smoking marijuana with lung, upper respiratory or upper digestive tract cancers- at least, not yet. Of course, that doesn't stop the OEHHA from putting pot in the crosshairs.
This decision is going to provide some serious ammo for the (mostly Republican) detractors of the medical marijuana movement. With state-by-state decriminalization and even full-on legalization finally within tangible grasp, it's really going to hurt when said detractors start throwing the 'C' word around.
And believe me, they will.
As a result of Friday's designation, dispensaries across California will now have to display warning signs, as well as separate warning labels on packaging used to store and sell medical marijuana.
Comments
sacbee.com/livinghere/story/1861861-p2.html
marijuana is thought by this man to protect against cancer.
are you a rebel in the war on drugs?
Keep up the good work soldier
platoon #420
cannabuddies
teddybear terrorist
Cannabis smoke has been shown NOT to cause lung cancer or COPD. OEHHA made its decision on erroneous assumptions, probably deducing that the presence of some potentially detrimental pyrolysis products (common to any form of burning celluose) in cannabis smoke meant that it had the same carcinogenic potential as tobacco. This is not true, as the bulk of the chemistry of the respective smokes is completely different., even if sharing some quantitatively minor similarities. Therefore, the toxicology contrasts signifantly via biological mechanisms too complex to describe here, but summarized by the conclusion that tobacco smoke is pro-carcinogenic, while cannabis smoke is anti-carcinogenic.
Tobacco has killed millions of people over the years. Marijuana has been used for thousands of years and you don't see people lined up at the emergency room in the hospital with black lungs or one foot in the grave.
This is more propaganda thrown out there from the government. It's BULL S**T.
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