Apr-2019
Firestone Institute Receives OLA Funding to Study the Effects of Cannabis Smoke on the Immune System
The Ontario Lung Association (OLA) has announced a funding commitment of $50,000 to study the effects of combusted (smoked) cannabis on the immune system. The study is being led by Dr. Jeremy Hirota at the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Dr. Hirota is the Canada Research Chair in Respiratory Mucosal Immunology and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University.
The cannabis study is based on Dr. Hirota’s previous work, which has shown striking similarities between the effects of tobacco and cannabis smoke (see https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/516294v1). The similarities suggest that cannabis smoke may also have a similar, detrimental effect on the immune system as tobacco smoke.
“There is a long history that shows tobacco smoking is associated with increased respiratory tract infections,” noted Dr. Hirota. “Tobacco smoke can decrease the antiviral processes of our lungs.”
When it comes to smoking cannabis, many scientists and clinicians believe there may be immune consequences similar to that of smoking tobacco.
“But that’s an unknown,” commented Dr. Hirota, who explained that research on cannabis has historically been very difficult due to restrictions on the controlled substance. This has left an enormous knowledge gap in medicinal and recreational cannabis use, particularly in the areas of respirology, but also in areas of mental health, addiction, and pain research.
Recreational use of cannabis has been expected to rise following its legalization in October 2018. In Ontario, the first storefronts legally allowed to sell cannabis opened their doors on April 1, 2019, increasing the accessibility of cannabis in the province. Previously, the only legal cannabis sales in Ontario were from the online Ontario Cannabis Store.
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