Dissecting the lung health risks of exposures to cannabis

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada in 2018, cannabis smoking has grown in popularity across many age groups, with over 5 million Canadians using the substance. Understanding how regular cannabis use affects lung health is critical for helping individuals make informed decisions and for guiding future healthcare recommendations. Dr. Janice Leung is the principal investigator conducting the CANUCK study at St. Paul Hospital. Funded by CIHR the Canadian Users of Cannabis Smoke study followed cannabis smokers for 3 years, looking at their lung symptoms, breathing tests, images, and lung cells. The results were compared to people who smoke cigarettes and people who do not smoke at all to determine health impacts. During this episode of Airwaves & Airways, we chat with Dr. Leung about the study, emerging patterns, and what's ahead for cannabis use research.