Source: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
As the perception of the harms of cannabis decreases, new evidence has emerged linking the illicit drug to lung and heart disease.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ believes the new research will challenge the common misconception that cannabis is a harmless recreational drug.
Foundation Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says people need to know what the risks are so they can make informed decisions about the use of the drug.
“Many Kiwis think smoking cannabis is a way of relaxing, switching off, or helping with pain, but the reality is that it does damage to your lungs and heart.”
According to the latest NZ Health Survey, about 8 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds use cannabis weekly (2022/2023) and 24% use it at least monthly.
The Journal of the American Heart Association recently published about the impacts of cannabis on the heart. It found that use is associated with a high risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, and the risk increases with the more days of use per month.
