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Cannabis
A Treatment for Asthma ? by Peter Kershaw , contributing writer
Asthma is a condition where the airways swell and narrow , making breathing difficult . It produces coughing and wheezing , excess mucus , shortness of breath , tightness in the chest , and respiratory spasms . Asthma runs the gambit of being a minor nuisance to a major problem that interferes with daily activities . For some , it can prove life-threatening — approximately 10 Americans die every day from asthma . Around 25 million Americans , or one in 13 , have asthma , which includes eight percent of adults and seven percent of children . Asthma results in many emergency room visits ( 1.6 million in 2018 ) and can affect people of any age , with children and the elderly being the most vulnerable . The good news for children ( and their parents ) is that many children outgrow asthma .
Asthma is often triggered by emotional distress , strenuous exercise , molds , dust , dust mites , smoke , air pollution , industrial chemicals , food additives , and various allergens . There is no known cure for asthma , but it can in many cases be controlled . Most commonly that ’ s done with prescription medications such as bronchodilator inhalers ( e . g ., Albuterol ) and steroids . Such drugs can provide rapid relief and , in some cases , even save an emergency room visit . However , daily use of such drugs comes at considerable risk . They accumulate in the liver and produce harmful side-effects . Studies show that , in time , they lose effectiveness and may even exacerbate asthma . Thankfully there are safer methods of treating asthma that may prove as or more effective than pharmaceuticals .
18 May 2022
Before early 20th century cannabis prohibition many doctors recommended cannabis products for a variety of ailments , including respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and asthma . And yes , that included smoked cannabis . They perceived then what has since been clinically proven — cannabis is a bronchodilator . Bronchodilators open the airways . While it may seem counterintuitive that inhaling a smoke could be therapeutic , smoking cannabis should not be conflated for smoking tobacco cigarettes . The two are not alike . If an asthmatic can comfortably tolerate cannabis smoke , they will likely receive several immediate and potentially life-saving benefits , including upper airway expansion and relaxation .
This is not to say that this author specifically recommends asthmatics smoke cannabis . There is , however , much to be said for vaping cannabis flower or concentrate . Vaping is facilitated at much lower temperatures than burning / combusting and , therefore , doesn ’ t include the particulates of smoking , thereby reducing lung irritants .
One need not even smoke or vape , however , to get similar benefits . Edibles and sublingual tinctures can also be effective . What they won ’ t provide is the immediate relief asthmatics require in a crisis situation . What edibles do well is provide longterm relief and potentially even act as a preventative where one might be anticipating a trigger event . Many asthmatics have found it especially effective to combine vaping with edibles .
Can Cannabis Be an Allergen ?
Asthmatics need to be careful about avoiding allergens . Though not commonplace , it is possible to develop an allergy to cannabis . Many asthmatics already suffer from various allergies and may be predisposed to cannabis allergy . Therefore , asthmatics should approach the use of cannabis ( particularly smoked or vaped ) with care , including second-hand smoke .
Allergy or Contaminant Reaction ?
This author has witnessed a number of cases where what appears to be an allergic reaction is in reality a toxic reaction to harmful chemicals or contaminants on or in cannabis products . Anything sold in Missouri dispensaries is supposedly safe . That ’ s the theory anyway . Labs are state-licensed and required to test for certain harmful contaminants , for example mycotoxins like mold and mildew , as well as harmful contaminants such as chemical pesticides and fungicides . However , labs can ’ t test for everything , nor are testing protocols and methodologies faultless .
A recent study found that 84 % of cannabis flower purchased from state-licensed dispensaries from all around California had unacceptable mold levels ( bear in mind , Missouri ’ s lab testing enforcement and compliance standards are similar to California ’ s ). Smoking mold-contaminated weed can produce allergic reactions leading consumers to falsely assume they ’ re allergic to cannabis . The same can be said for residual chemical pesticides that may , for lab purposes ,