A recent study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health has found concerning levels of harmful metals like lead and cadmium in the blood and urine of marijuana users.
This research is one of the first and largest to measure metal levels inside the bodies of people who use marijuana, rather than just looking at the metal content in the plant itself.
The team gathered data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2018.
Out of 7,254 participants, they looked at various groups, including people who only use marijuana, only use tobacco, use both, and those who use neither.
They found that people who only use marijuana had noticeably higher levels of lead in their blood and urine compared to those who only use tobacco.
Why This Matters
Marijuana is the third most commonly used drug after tobacco and alcohol.
With 21 states and Washington D.C. legalizing it for recreational use and 38 states for medical use, more than half of the U.S. population can now legally use marijuana.
However, because it’s still not legal at the federal level, there isn’t any nationwide standard for checking the safety of marijuana products. Currently, each state has its own rules about how much metal can be in these products.
So, why does this matter? Well, lead and cadmium are toxic metals. High exposure to them can lead to serious health issues like kidney disease, bone damage, and even neurological problems.
Since the marijuana plant naturally pulls in metals from the soil, users might be unknowingly exposing themselves to these harmful substances.
The researchers are calling for more studies on this issue to help us better understand the public health risks, especially since marijuana use is becoming more widespread.
Tiffany R. Sanchez, the senior author of the study, emphasized that more research on cannabis and its contaminants is needed to address these health concerns.
Given that a significant portion of Americans use marijuana, this issue can’t be ignored. This study shows that we need federal guidelines to ensure the safety of marijuana products.
Until then, if you’re a marijuana user, it might be a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about these findings and what they could mean for you.
If you care about cannabis, please read studies that what you need to know about cannabis and heart attack, and CBD from cannabis may help inhibit COVID-19 infection.
For more information about cannabis, please see recent studies that medical cannabis could help reduce depression, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
The study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives.
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