Marijuana use is more common than ever—for both medical and recreational purposes. Cannabis users now have many ways to consume the substance: by smoking, vaping, or in edible forms. This variety may lead users to wonder what’s safest and what behaviors come with the most risks.
“We all have the same questions about how marijuana might affect voice and throat health,” says Ross Mayerhoff, M.D., an otolaryngologist at Henry Ford Health. “But while we know that smoking is bad for all portions of the airway, we still don’t have much data on the long-term effects of marijuana or THC (the active substance in cannabis) itself.”
Is Smoking Weed Safer Than Smoking Cigarettes?
The hazards of smoking cigarettes are well known. The effects of the smoke itself—as well as the nicotine the cigarettes contain—are clearly linked to numerous health issues. But there’s still some confusion about whether or not marijuana is any safer.
“When we look at tobacco, and how much of the toxicity comes from the combustion by-products of smoking versus the nicotine content,” says Dr. Mayerhoff, “we find that much of the harm to the larynx (voice box) is coming from the combustion by-products.”
If you’re smoking marijuana instead of tobacco, those toxic combustion byproducts are similar. “In fact, some of the toxic products found in tobacco smoke are actually found in higher levels in marijuana smoke,” says Dr. Mayerhoff.
The way people smoke tobacco and marijuana is also different. “With marijuana, people typically take greater inhales and hold the smoke in longer before exhaling,” Dr. Mayerhoff adds. So, smoking a smaller amount of marijuana might produce the same level of toxicity as smoking more cigarettes.
Much of this damage happens in the lungs, but the throat, voice and upper respiratory system can also be affected. “There are a few studies that have found that marijuana smoke can damage the vocal cord mucosa (the layer of tissue that protects the vocal cords),” notes Dr. Mayerhoff.
The Risks of Vaping Cannabis to Your Voice and Throat
Vaping is often portrayed as a safer alternative to smoking, with e-cigarettes touted as a bridge to quitting smoking. “Vaping as a replacement for smoking—without intent to quit—still has potential harms,” says Dr. Mayerhoff. “But the technology and availability of vaping has outpaced the science, so we don’t have a lot of conclusive data.”
One recent study looked at the effect of e-cigarettes (not marijuana vaping) on the upper airway. It found that, while the impact was less damaging than smoking, vaping did cause direct cell damage, inflammatory effects, gene damage and carcinogenic effects. Dr. Mayerhoff says he suspects results would be similar for those who vape marijuana.
There are also reports of damage to the throat and upper airway from inhaling the oil used in the vape device. “It can cause a heat injury when it’s inhaled deeply,” warns Dr. Mayerhoff. Even without direct injury, those who vape marijuana regularly often report dry, irritated throats—as well as a raspy-sounding voice.
Does Edible Marijuana Affect Your Voice?
Popping a weed gummy, instead of lighting up a joint or a vape, likely saves your throat from damage. When vaping or smoking, it’s the combustion that’s causing issues—and those damaging effects are similar no matter the drug.
“The plant where it came from isn’t the issue,” says Dr. Mayerhoff. “If you took a piece of broccoli, dried it out, ground it down and smoked it, you could still potentially damage your lungs and throat.”
Eating marijuana eliminates the effects of combustion, although people still sometimes experience dry mouth from edibles. “There are other health concerns about edibles,” he adds. “But I’d be less concerned about any negative effects on the voice.”
Reviewed by Ross Mayerhoff, M.D., an ear, nose and throat specialist who sees patients at Henry Ford Hosital, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital Clinics and Henry Ford Medical Center - Lakeside.
