For decades people have been smoking marijuana. It is not a new phenomenon and, like cigarette smoking, it is not going to disappear in the near future. The thing is that smoking of any kind is bad for you and even though marijuana does not have nicotine in it there are still things that are detrimental to a persons health that are contained in what is smoked. Studies have shown that marijuana users miss work days more in line with what smokers miss than the number of days missed by non-smokers. This is more than a coincidence since the extra sick days of marijuana smokers are almost all linked to respiratory ailments.

Other signs that marijuana smoking is not as harmless as smokers think is the fact that often the smoker winds up with a cough, or a burning in the mouth and throat. There is often an increase in phlegm and chest infections; just like cigarette smokers. Studies have shown that those who smoke marijuana increase the risk of certain cancers including those of the neck and lungs. In some cases the ingredients in marijuana have as many, even if different, carcinogens as cigarettes. Unlike those who smoke cigarettes and take a quick puff before they exhale marijuana smokers breathe in deeply, holding it a moment, before exhaling. Due to this smoking process the lungs have more exposure to the unhealthy ingredients. This means that marijuana may actually be worse for a person's lungs than cigarettes.

Those who smoke marijuana know that it contains THC. This is also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol which is the ingredient in marijuana that enables a person to get stoned. This ingredient diminishes the ability of the body's immune system to act properly to fight against illness. This is a harmful side effect of smoking marijuana and is definitely not good for a person's body. Other studies have shown that memory and mood are effected by chronic use of marijuana. It can intensify depression and nervousness making the heavy smoker on edge or hard to deal with. Being a marijuana smoker can cause worse performance at work or at school as it damages memory and learning ability.

Some authorities in the medical filed believe that those who smoke marijuana have a higher risk of trying hard drugs. These same medical authorities believe that marijuana smoking is addictive and that those who decide to quit will find themselves dealing with similar withdrawal symptoms as cigarette smokers. They will have cravings to deal with and become restless, irritable, depressed, and nervous. This can be more difficult than it is for cigarette smokers. The fact is that there are many more unknowns when it comes to marijuana smoking. The long term health risks have not been studied for as long or as closely. The addiction factors are disagreed upon depending on whether you are a researcher, physician or smoker. Either way the facts still point to smoking marijuana as bad for your health, especially your lungs, so it is worth taking a closer look at quitting.