Study Finds Increasing Perception of Cannabis Smoke as Safer Than Tobacco Smoke, According to the American Medical Association
A new study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) reveals that more people are viewing smoking marijuana or being exposed to secondhand cannabis smoke as safer than smoking or being near tobacco smoke. The study, conducted by researchers who surveyed 5,035 U.S. adults three times between 2017 and 2021, found a significant shift in public perception over time.
Participants were asked to rate the safety of smoking one marijuana joint per day compared to smoking one cigarette per day. In 2017, 33.7 percent of respondents believed that smoking marijuana was more dangerous than smoking a daily cigarette, while 36.6 percent believed it was safer. However, by 2021, only 25.5 percent still believed that cannabis was more dangerous, while 44.3 percent said it was safer—a 21 percent increase from four years earlier.
Similar trends were observed when participants were questioned about the relative dangers of being exposed to secondhand cannabis and cigarette smoke. In 2017, 29.2 percent of people believed that secondhand marijuana smoke was more dangerous than cigarette smoke exposure, compared to 35.1 percent who believed the opposite. By 2021, only 25.5 percent thought secondhand cannabis smoke was worse than tobacco smoke, while 40.1 percent said exposure to marijuana was safer than being around cigarette smoke.
The study also asked participants to rate the relative safety of secondhand marijuana and tobacco smoke for different groups. Results showed that 12.6 percent believed cannabis smoke was somewhat or completely safe for adults, compared to only 2.4 percent who said the same about tobacco smoke. For children, 4.8 percent believed secondhand cannabis smoke was safe, in contrast to 1.8 percent for tobacco. Additionally, 5.3 percent stated that exposure to marijuana smoke was generally safe for pregnant women, while only 1.4 percent believed the same about cigarettes.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the legality of cannabis in participants’ state of residence did not independently impact the change in attitudes. They suggested that the increasing perception of cannabis safety may be a larger national trend rather than solely seen in states with cannabis legalization.
Despite the changing attitudes, the authors expressed concern about the public’s perception of marijuana’s safety and emphasized the need for public health efforts to educate people about potential risks. They compared it to past educational campaigns targeting secondhand tobacco smoke.
The release of this study coincides with other recent surveys that show increasing acceptance and use of cannabis in the United States. Gallup’s latest poll found that half of Americans have tried marijuana, with more people actively smoking cannabis than tobacco cigarettes. Additionally, most Americans do not express significant concerns about the effects of adults regularly using marijuana.
Meanwhile, a poll by the American Psychiatric Association revealed that Americans consider marijuana to be significantly less dangerous and addictive than cigarettes, alcohol, opioids, and even technology. This aligns with previous surveys that found Americans now perceive cannabis as less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco.
The study provides further evidence of the shifting perceptions regarding marijuana’s safety, and the authors call for public health efforts to ensure the public is adequately informed about potential risks.