Are Hemp Cigarettes a Viable Alternative to Tobacco?

In the United States it is estimated 13 out of 100 adults, or 30.8 million people currently smoke tobacco cigarettes. Smoking is the most common preventable cause of death in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, though the addictive power of nicotine has a strong hold on those who partake. Hemp cigarettes provide a healthy alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and can even help individuals stop smoking tobacco products.

Cigarettes contain over 600 ingredients and when burned there are more than 7,000 chemicals inhaled, many of which are poisonous, and all are harmful to the body. In fact, at least 70 ingredients used in traditional tobacco cigarettes are known to cause cancer. Smoking comes with a variety of health risks including, but not limited to:

  • Anxiety/Irritability
  • Risk of infection to the teeth as well as loss of teeth and bone
  • Cancer
  • Lung diseases, including emphysema and COPD
  • Persistent coughing from damaged airways
  • Higher risk of heart disease and stroke
  • High cholesterol
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Weakens the immune system
  • Contributes to infertility
  • Constricts blood vessels
  • Premature aging and dry skin
  • Vision problems
  • And so much more

There are no doubts smoking tobacco cigarettes is harmful to not just those who partake, but also to those around them due to secondhand smoke. Unfortunately, the addictive power of nicotine can be too great, and current smoking aids on the market can come with an array of unwanted side effects including inducing severe nightmares and suicidal thoughts. This leaves many who want to quit with few options to help.

Though research into smokable CBD products as a safer alternative to smokable tobacco is limited, studies have shown promising results. In 2013 a double-blind placebo study was conducted with CBD on those who wished to quit smoking tobacco products. Half were given an inhaler with CBD and the other half were given a placebo. Throughout the one-week trial subjects were instructed to use the inhaler whenever they felt the urge to smoke. In the placebo group there were no changes in nicotine use reported. However, within the CBD group individuals were able to cut their consumption by 40%, suggesting CBD and hemp could be therapeutic for those with nicotine addictions. (1)

A 2018 study conducted by The London College found CBD was a promising smoking cessation tool. The subjects within the study had stopped using nicotine throughout the night and were then given 800mg of CBD. When shown pictures related to smoking, pleasant reactions reduced, suggesting CBD limited intrusive thoughts about nicotine. Additionally, CBD has anti-anxiety properties that can help individuals feel less anxious and irritable when quitting nicotine. (2)

Hemp cigarettes have minimal ingredients and are packed with benefits making them a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes on the market today. They help individuals quit smoking and take back their lives and health by doing so.

Research

  1. Cannabidiol reduces cigarette consumption in tobacco smokers: preliminary findings – PubMed (nih.gov) Morgan et al. 2013
  2. Cannabidiol reverses attentional bias to cigarette cues in a human experimental model of tobacco withdrawal – PubMed (nih.gov) Hindocha et al. 2018

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