Health Impact of Smoking & Vaping Both Marijuana & Nicotine | Dr. Peter Attia & Dr. Andrew Huberman 

I’m 52 , started smoking weed at 12, I’ve been high since 2010, ran a 100 miles in 28 hrs last year, I run an avg of 25 plus miles a week on avg, lift weights 3 to 4 times a week. Dr always impressed with my health, ( including bloodwork) , I’m not on any meds. As far as my mental health , I like me and that’s all that matters.

Im 65, I started vaping THC at 60, I exercise and lift weights 5 days a week. Never felt better, won’t stop!

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

To clarify, I think it would be helpful to distinguish between two forms of “vaping” which can be used for tobacco or marijuana (especially). One form is when thc or nicotine is infused into a liquid, which is then vaporizes into smoke. The other form of vaping is when one can simply heat the dry herb and inhale the active compounds found in the plant, as they turn from a solid to vapor (sublimation). The latter of these two forms of “vaporization” is vastly less harmful than the other method. In fact, the only downside to vaping mentioned is the trace inorganic compounds found in the liquid. The second method doesn’t have this downside. Anyways, it’s a common misunderstanding I see, simply fdur to lack of distinguishing

No one ever addresses dry herb vaping at different temperatures and the effects of that vs smoking - glaring and major missing link in these conversations regarding marijuana

I stopped smoking weed about year ago in February. Best decision I’ve ever made.

Dry herb vaping cannabis has dramatically improved my life mentally and physically.

My aunt got small cell lung cancer at age 38 and never smoked a day in her life. I also have an uncle I never met that died in his sleep at 19. On the other side of my family, my grandpa smoked since he was 12 years old and made it to 98. I think I will still keep dry herb vaporizing, everything in moderation because you could die tomorrow

I finally started going to the doctor regularly a few years ago, yearly bloodwork really helps them keep an eye on your health. We have a walk in clinic here in NM , and you can get on a sliding scale based on your income. When im going through a bit of the melancholy, rigid exercise schedules always seem to help me temper the worst of storms, I always feel better after a workout than before , it’s definitely a mental cheat code for me. If my workouts start to stagnate , I’ll try looking for for a race or something( I give myself goals), a half ,or full marathon is a few months of structure to adhere to, helps keep me centered when I’m a little off track. The only hero that’s gonna come save me is me. 🤘

One thing that's often left out in the discussions/research is "dry herb vaping". Not the liquid capsules. I'm curious on the data for harm both physically and mentally on that form of ingestion, since there is no real ignition or fire to burn anything since it's temperature regulated; And no added chemicals aside from the potential pesticides sprayed on the flower itself.

As a “THC guy” and an engineer, I differentiate “vaping” and dabs specifically. There is a radical difference in methodology, and thus byproducts, between any vaping of a liquid form using an electric current through a coil for your heat source, and applying a concentrate (hash oil essentially) to a superheated glass (or metal) element that was heated by an external source, such as a torch. The e-coil element emits heavy metal ions and I can taste it. My lungs also rebel within about a month, I will literally be unable to take the smallest inhale without spasms of coughing every time, and unable to continue until after several days-weeks of abstinence . By Eliminating the electronic element I don’t experience that side effect from daily consumption (it’s my ADHD medication and pulmonary is the most effective dosing method). I have so far seen zero literature or commentary that addresses this, and the public perception of “vaping” is all centered around those damn cartridges and batteries. I realize my analysis is 100% anecdotal however, it is dramatic, absolute, and completely reproducable.

can’t huberman just say it’s okay to smoke weed so I can feel okay about the one vice I have 😭😭😭 lol

How about vaporizing cannabis (heating it to 180-220 degC)? There are no added chemicals as in vaping and no combustion byproducts as in smoking, so in theory the harm should be even lower

As a marijuana smoker that’s 19. I used to smoke a lot of carts (thc vapes). All day everyday was high and I noted two types of tolerance there. The first tolerance is the one that’s obvious, receptors not taking it… and the second is what I call “lack of sobriety tolerance”. If you are high from first thing morning to when you sleep, and you are constantly trying to get a little higher from carts, you literally forget to remember what sobriety feels like and you are still high but you feel almost sober. Anyways I don’t recommend carts to anyone other than medical patients who can trust themselves to hit it only as much as needed. I just smoke from a pipe now and usually only at night.

I love smoking weed and exercising. One of my favorite things is getting blazed and go for a run or bike ride. Personally, alcohol has been a motivation killer. I’m pretty much incapacitated after a night out which leads to wanting to be an anti social couch potato stewing in depression. Everyone’s different though. I’ve been a functional stoner since 2007 so I have an unusual tolerance.

Come on guys, it's 2024 not 2018, you guys never mention dry herb vaping amongst all this lets get it together 👏

Can you please make the distinction between dry herb cannabis vaping, versus the other type of vaping you're referring to using liquid forms (e-cigarette)

Comments towards the end about air pollution killing people versus causing climate change are spot on.

@huberman may you elaborate the difference of effects of vaping dry herb vs. liquid cannabis ?

What about vaping weed with induction heating under combustion temperature?

Whenever I hear about vaping, it’s always about vaping concentrates (oils). What about a dry herb vaporizer?

A HUGE request, pls do Psoriasis We suffer 😢 depressingly. 🙏 1. What causes it? (at a teen age specifically) 2. How to cure it ? 3. Please suggest specific drugs or brands of medicines to cure it through the GUT.

I smoked cigarettes and weed for 40 years. A pack or 2 of Marlboros a day. Been about 9 years now since I quit both at the same time. I started having trouble breathing. I'm 63, and I feel pretty good. My breathing is fine now. I still drink beer though.

When he said he doesn’t use cannabis then goes on to say how a cigarette and a joint are equally bad, he’s opinion lost all credibility. How many chemicals are in a cigarette compared to a cannabis joint?

I would be interested in seeing a video on CHS (Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome) from you, I feel like it is something not talked about near as much as it should. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on that if so.

Do an episode on dry herb vaping pls

I smoked weed every day for 15 years nonstop.. Later when I went for a regular check up the doctor asked me if I even smoke because there was zero sign if I smoke at all and my lungs were clean asf.

I keep trying to get these conversations and maybe im biased because i smoke cannabis and my physician always tells me my health is amazing. So i only know about myself but i also have an awareness that my physician works for me and im there for their opinion so 🤷🏾‍♀️

What does he mean by "vaping"? Is it vaping chemicals with nicotine, or vaporizing natural herbs? I'm confused as those are two really very different things... Can you be more specific? Maybe something is lost in translation, as Vaporizing is what is commonly prescribed in Europe as preferred way of ingesting Medical Marijuana, so I would be surprised if it was as bad as vaping chemicals with nicotine...

I've seen some research that suggests that marijuana smoke may not be as carcinogenic as tobacco smoke. But it still can't be good for.

I thought the thumbnail was a before/after shot

I used to smoke around 30 cigarettes a day for 15 years… I’ve been vaping for 10 years, and I agree that vaping is not good for me, but it is a lot less harmful than smoking. I hate that so many young people got addicted to nicotine because of vaping, but I consider myself to be a lot healthier thanks to it. I’m sure vaping saved my life.

I'm over fifty years into daily weed smoking and my lungs are fine .

You mentioned CBD and epilepsy. It would be very interesting to have an episode/podcast on epilepsy as I had epilepsy growing up, went 15 years without a seizure, and then all of a sudden had 4 seizures out of the blue.

I wish the studies would differentiate between liquid vape and dry vaping

After 10years of smoking since 17 I decided to start vaping. About a year later I started getting chest pain, got that checked and I had a mass in my mediastinum that was getting inflamed. The biopsy Turned out to be inconclusive and I don’t have any flair ups anymore. I also stopped smoking altogether. I strongly believe the vaping caused the inflammations, though I don’t think it would develop a tumor in 1 year. In summary I’m not sick and I don’t smoke anymore.

The emotional argument regarding cannabis is due to the real history and motivations for cannabis prohibition, specifically the draconian overreach of the DEA, it's militarization and the fact that the clear objective was never pubic health, but a method of targeting visible minorities and political opponents (the hippies). There is no drug in existence that is as damaging to society as an authoritarian, unaccountable police force armed like front line military assault squads. That's exactly what the DEA became.

Its hard to believe that first statement when the list of chemicals they add to cigarettes is over 7000 ingredients

Explain Willie Nelson, probably been high for 50 years ,super finger dexterity, able to hold hours of music ,and lyrics in his head, speaks more fluently than most people his age that never smoked weed.

For me there‘s a huge difference between smoking weed with tobacco vs vaping pure weed. Of course i can imagine that the resin is harmful anyway for the lung, but i‘m wondering how harmful it really is? (except of psychosis etc.) any expert knowledge here?

Idk much. But what i DO know is i have been using marijuana since age 13 and nicotine since age 14. Im now 23 and randomly got epilepsy, psychosis, and bad deja vu.

What does he mean when he says high THC consumption predisposes one to later onset psychosis? So the risk of psychosis with cannabis use isn't limited to the acute effects but can actually increase the risk of developing psychosis at a later point when cannabis use has stopped?

Smoking a joint a day is the same as smoking a cigarette a day? Damn…. I’d love to see the evidence for that

I love weed and all but I don’t think that they are the same when comparing a joint to a cigarette. Some of the best weed I have smoked has put itself out because of the THC was so high and sticky that the conversion to tar made the airflow of the joint completely clog. Next I was thinking about why don’t they put cotton filters on them and then I hit the interwebs and people had anecdotal knowledge suggesting that the high wouldn’t be as potent. Basically I felt like I was just on the hunt to mitigate the inhalation of something I was trying to inhale that was inherently bad for me. Edibles are probably the most “healthy” way to ingest cannabis and the most boring. I always preferred smoking but it is not healthy at all.

I had a great influence in my life as a young man who taught me a few lessons. I used to take smll portions of his pot stash out of his top dresser drawer as a young kid like 12-13 yrs old. He led by example, even though it was the do as i say not as i do era....x-c skiing, mtn biking.....telemarking....jack jumping....swimming. Never running said it was too hard on your joints after awhile, never questioned him. I think if one were to imbibe anything that combusts the pulmonary system it should then be met the next day with some sort of cardio exercise.

What about dry herb vapes instead of chemical? Everyone seems to jump from weed smoking to oil and misses the beauty of a dry herb vaporizer, which is significantly better than either option.

Even a joint a day, how do we quantify that? Pinner .2 or a 1+ gram joint, and what if they’re smoking a tobacco blunt wrapper? I’d say even a .5 gram j or blunt smoked to yourself a day is a lot of cannabis. Say you’re only taking 2-5 hits out of a pipe or vape, that’s a very low quantity. With cannabis use discussion, the dosage per user and terminology can range pretty wide. Thoughts on athletes using it in small quantities? All for abstaining from all use within formative years, important discussions to be had!

I don’t mean to question your judgment on me having a problem , but being a science guy , I would think you would require a lot more information before determining someone has a problem. I abstain periodically for personal reasons with mild edginess for maybe a day , since it’s not physically addictive it’s super easy. But I like me better with weed, so I’ll continue. As a matter of fact,I have a small hernia that’s going to be repaired so it’s been almost a week since I’ve partaken, ( don’t want to goof with anesthesia it takes a lot more if you’ve been smoking weed) . When I’m healed I’ll pack a bowl. People get prescribed lots of drugs that they take on a daily basis, just because it’s not some crap pharmaceutical concoction, with horrible side effects doesn’t mean it’s not medicine. Im not here to change your mind, just providing some data to plug into with the numbers. ✌️

Never slept well, I’ve had jobs when I was younger went a couple few years without weed, still never slept good, now I have pains that keep me from sleeping still, so it’s it’s even harder to sleep, I’m sure lack of sleep has a negative impact on me but I guess I’m used to it. I wake up early and feel fine,and have lots of energy throughout the days.

What about vaping cannabis flower with hot heated air like a portable Mighty device? Does that eliminate most of the downsides of vaping cannabis?

I used to smoke 10 joints a day...I read the amount of tar in joints is way worse. In any event love all the info and both of you guys.

Huberman needs to revisit his public health statistics knowledge. Comparing the relative harms of alcohol vs marijuana is totally valid and appropriate. Marijuana is much less dangerous to society and the individual than alcohol. Check British Medical Journal July 2012. Over 80,000 people die yearly from alcohol. Check CDC statistics for cannabis.

Great video thank you

Thank goodness cigar and pipe smoking is not enhaled. Now i feel better about taking that up.

I think another factor to consider besides frequency of smoking is also what is being smoked. Natural cannabis doesn’t have nearly the chemicals cigarettes do. I did appreciate the environmental air pollution insight tho.

Saying cannabis isn't as bad as alcohol really isn't a crazy argument, if someone needs a substance to help them relax and they have to chose one over the other then it's a valid argument and very true. You can use cannabis heavily for a long time and easily quit with no serious withdrawal symptoms but alcohol can cause life threatening withdrawal symptoms like seizures if you abuse it long enough.

No mention of the CHEMICALS added to cigarettes versus natural cannabis plant material? It’s apples and oranges. And harm reduction with cannabis is a valid practice that saves lives, it’s not “crazy.”

Spaced repetition can promote retrieval of learning new words..

What silly is people talking about weed who dont and havent tried using it for an extended period of time. I was a alcoholic for many years, weed helpede stop and has taken me from 270# dude who got winded going up a single flight of stairs, and now have ticked off a century ride (100 miles) in around 5 and a half hours, and workout 3-5 days a week. Cannabis is a godsend and literally saved my life.

I like what Peter said about the pollution compared to CO2. I've made this point a few times: instead of harping on about the climate, we should be talking about having a clean environment for living. It's so much more accessible to people, plus you can actually give solid numbers and evidence regarding the effects of a dirty environment compared to a cleaner one. It's also more scalable, which means there are very simple things that people on an individual level can do to have an immediate impact. Anyone who's ever seen a landfill or a messy room compared to an open field or clean and organized room knows the difference and feels it just using basic imagery like I just did. It brings it closer to home, and you can actually make a difference. Nobody is going to argue for a polluted place to live over a cleaner one, as long as it doesn't turn into something compulsory. That's where the climate issue has such a big problem. The changes in its name are obviously being forced on a public that will be footing the bill for large corporations to reap the monetary rewards. It doesn't help that they use apocalyptic imagery when they attempt to convince you of what needs to be done.

I guess Dr. Peter and Dr. Andrew have never monitored my cannabis intake

Cost is the main reason vapes are my go to but also onset of action nothing beats instant relief

Herb doesn't have nicotine, thats the "key" that opens the alveolos in the lungs. I'm 65 been smoking daily more than 40 years and a recent x Ray says everything fine. Not so much the amount. 😊

How would a joint be equivalent in harm to a cigarette? Cigs are packed with carcinogens, no?

What about dry Herb vaping?

What about smoking weed using a water pipe? Does the water act as a kind of filter, or does it simply cool down the smoke?

It used to be 20 cigarettes equaled one Marihuana cigarette. Wonder who came up with that math, Phillip Morris. Delivery method is the worst in both instances

the soils and nutrients and flushing methods of the plants actually DO make a huge difference with respect to carcinogen levels found in the smoke or vapor of a plant when consumed problem with tobacco is that it is produced with very toxic pesticides and crap whereas weed is usually the opposite (depending on a wide wide array of factors) and is usually flushed very well

I wish I could use edibles, unfortunately thc doesn’t get absorbed by my body when eaten. Tried high amount of dosages, without any effects. Oil drops and vaping are the two go to. Any other advise for medicinal usage when edibles don’t work?

These guys are going to be so surprised when all their charts look perfect and they still die of something.

I would trade pot for alcohol in society in a heart beat. The pot causes phsychosis fallacy has been around forever. No epidemic in pot smoking countries. What's real bad is no exercise, high protien and processed food diets.

Ya’ll need to get on dry herb vapes. As someone who swims 6-8km a week switching to the dry herb vape made a big difference and I go through a fraction of flower.

I’ll abstain periodically, I commented to someone else that I’m currently almost a week without, ( surgery for a small ab hernia,, it seriously affects how much anesthesia they have to give you, and that shit is no good)I’ll get a little edgy for a day. The great thing about weed is it’s not physically addictive, anything you think you feel is just mental . For me it’s always been pretty easy when I need to put the sacrament to the side for a bit. Quitting sugar on the other hand, is brutal.

i'm a physiotherapist who has a particular interest within respiratory medicine. No matter what you smoke (cigarettes or vaping), you are damaging your lungs. Here's how this works; Firstly, smoking leads to chronic inflammation within the lungs. When you inhale smoke, it irritates the delicate tissues lining your airways and lungs. This constant irritation triggers an immune response, causing the body to release inflammatory substances. Over time, this chronic inflammation damages the lung tissues, leading to scarring or fibrosis. The scarring and damage caused by smoking are irreversible. This can result in conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where the air sacs in the lungs become less elastic, making it harder to breathe. Additionally, smoking damages the cilia-tiny hair-like structures that help clear mucus and debris from the airways. When these are impaired, it increases the risk of infections like pneumonia and bronchitis. Furthermore, smoking affects the function of alveoli, the small air sacs where oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is removed. The toxins in smoke can damage these air sacs, reducing their efficiency and leading to decreased oxygen exchange. This diminishes the amount of oxygen that reaches vital organs, which can lead to respiratory failure. The chemicals in smoke also promote the production of excessive mucus, leading to congestion and coughing. This chronic irritation can evolve into conditions like emphysema, where the lung's air sacs are gradually destroyed, making breathing incredibly difficult. In essence, smoking initiates a cascade of events that harm lung tissues, impair their function, and increase the risk of developing severe respiratory conditions. The best option is to stop now. Treating patients and hearing their stories on how they "wished they had never smoked" is truly heart breaking. Make the right choice today.

You can have many opinions regarding chronic cannabis use, but none are really valid until you actually quit

I switched from smoking mj to using a volcano style dry herb vape (xq2) and this has really improved my lungs/ throat No solvents or additives, just ground weed

Thanks

Smoking caluses the system, fortifying it… I rather smoke then pop meds in my senior years.

I know because my dr says I’m In great health, i know because i work circles around people half my age, i know because im thankful everyday ,for the amazing life if been able to live.

I started smoking weed as a teenager and that continued for about 15 years, rarely a day without it. I have internal damage and it wrecked my mental health. Quitting weed was one of the best decisions I ever made. Quitting alcohol was the best decision overall though.

When they say vaping, does that mean dry herb, or electric vaping?

Alcohol has zero medical applications, and has ruined lives on par with, or exceeding those of meth, cocaine and heroin , so I think the comparison of getting hit by a bus or a bicycle should be more in comparison with getting punched or being hit by a bus, when it comes to comparing marijuana and alcohol.

Smoking anything is unhealthy but cannabis, regardless of its the same amount, is way less toxic than tobacco

I smoked marijuana for many years approximately 15 plus years and typically never had any issues would workout 6 days a week and was in excellent health but something changed in the marijuana it would be hit or miss with any given strain until it wasn't even worth the risk of having panic attacks, or headaches which I never had my entire life. Quit cold turkey and other than vivid dreams for a few weeks it's been fine. Wish I didn't have to quit but I'd rather be sober than trying to figure out if I'm having a medical condition or not. Quit coffee and drinking anything past two or three beers. I don't miss it honestly being high for so long makes being sober feel like a high in and of itself.

I think even 1:1 Thc is less carcinogenic simply due to less toxic compounds present, tho if you smoked as many joints as a smoker did cigs I do think it would be nearly as bad

Interesting that Jeanne Calment of Arles France , one of the longest lived human beings ( 122 years ) , smoked from the age of 21 through the age of 117 . Not an advocate of smoking but it seems sometimes there is no rhyme or reason in the face of human longevity…….many mysteries……

Had pneumonia in my late teens early 20s at some point and was a heavy smoker 1-3 packs of menthols a day also 2-6 large blunts a day. By my early 20s I would get soo much fluid build up in my lungs at night I'd start to drown I wouldn't be able to breathe I'd wake up let out several horrible coughs and gasp for air for a few minutes then go back to sleep. During the day I'd cough up flem often I eventually switched to vaping after 6 months of mixing smoking and vaping and the lung problems vastly went away. This was 10 years ago now I still have some fluid build up but nothing like before just occasional flem from heavy vaping nicotine and THC for these years.

I been smoking weed for a long time I smoke about 4 to 5 times a day . I workout 2 times a day once at 430 am. I run . My morning routine starts with 600 sit-ups with20 lbs kettlebell then 400 Russian twist with 35 lbs kettlebell then 600 push ups. That's just the warm up

Some thoughts on vaping dry cannabis herb would be good

I see a lot of hasty generalization fallacys here..along the lines of my dad (or other close relatives)smoked until he was 90 and he was fine….so I’ll be fine too!

Vaping nicotine doesn't seem all that safe, especially with all kinds of artificial flavorings. I vaped for awhile and could easily feel it affect my breathing. I switched to nicotine gum when I started having trouble taking deep, full breaths. It was very dysphoric, and it went away after I quit vaping.

Uhh I,ve smoked weed since I was 14. I smoke everyday and I,m 70 now and my lung o2 level is 98 percent. Doctors always advise to ere on the side of caution but living takes over. no booze ,no alcohol ect ect.

It shouldn't be illegal BUT too many still wrongly believe it to be entirely harmless.

Well right out of the gate we get a very ignorant statement. I guess I wont waste my time with this video.

So i assume neither one of them knows how to do basic research .

No memory issues, the only time I get a little foggy is if I’m running a lot,and not paying enough attention to my nutrition . I’ll notice it pretty quick ,and take a day off ,and eat a bunch, then I’m usually fine by the next day.

Also. Weed pens, dabs. They are much much much more difficult to stop. It almost feels like an opioid when you try to stop. You can’t eat, think. Shit, or sleep when you try to stop. But with greens I was able to stop whenever I wanted.

Why do weed enthusiasts have the most defensive response to any discussion of potential harms of weed? There are plenty of benefits with MJ, but contrary experiences always elicit victim blaming and anecdotal exceptions.

every ten or twelve days or so , I like a pinch of dry herb cannabis in a vape, a treat , my little guilty pleasure , I'm good right?

Adding another ask to the chorus of commenters asking for data about vaping dry herb. Not liquid with chemical additives. Please and thanks for your consideration.