In a recent study conducted by a government agency, a discovery indicates that marijuana use does not impair lung function. Compared to smoking cigarettes, marijuana has been found to not cause long term or permanent damage to the functionality or health of the lungs. The study was conducted by following approximately 5,000 test subjects who smoked marijuana equivalent to a joint per day over a period of seven years. The subjects performed a breathing test to provide results as to the effects of marijuana on lung function.

While this study indicates that marijuana does not cause lung damage or conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -C.O.P.D. for short,- the drug can still have effects on memory and learning as well as irritate the airways. It is not completely clear as to whether or not the effects marijuana has on memory and learning are long term or permanent, but its notoriety to cause coughing and irritated airways is figured to be temporary, meaning the symptoms will likely recede once a user quits smoking marijuana. It remains unclear as to how exactly marijuana does not cause lung damage, but it is assumed that its prime ingredient, THC, may be a factor due to its slight anti-inflammatory effects.

Whether you will damage the rest of your life, we can’t say.