humulene and Pneumonia

Topics: Adolescent; Cannabis; Humans; Marijuana Abuse; Pneumonia

Topics: Cannabis; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms; Pneumonia; Vaping

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Butanes; Cannabis; Humans; Male; Marijuana Smoking; Pneumonia; Young Adult

Cannabis is widely smoked in Europe and its increasing use is becoming a major public health problem. Adulterating cannabis with glass beads or sand is a new trick used by dealers to increase the weight and boost profits. These recent practices are not without danger. We report two cases of respiratory symptoms related to the use of this kind of adulterated cannabis. The first case is a 33 year-old patient admitted for an acute inhalation pneumonitis secondary to smoking cannabis adulterated with grit sand. The CT scan showed patchy ground-glass opacities, mainly in the upper lobes. A broncho-alveolar lavage, examined under polarized light, revealed birefringent intracellular particles, identified as silica, in alveolar macrophages. Spontaneously clinical and radiological improvements were observed after stopping the use of contaminated cannabis. The second patient, who smoked cannabis mixed with glass beads, described epistaxis, mouth ulcers, sore throats and cough. CT scan and BAL were normal. Adulteration of cannabis with microscopic glass beads, alone or mixed with sand, is a recent and widespread practice in Europe. These anecdotal reports prompted the French Department of Health to advise cannabis smokers of the harmfulness of these contaminants.

Topics: Adult; Cannabis; Cough; Drug Contamination; Epistaxis; France; Humans; Inhalation; Male; Oral Ulcer; Pharyngitis; Pneumonia; Radiography

I have selected two areas of concern about cannabis that have emerged because new patterns of usage are perceptible over the past few years. In the case of pulmonary pathology there is good reason to suspect that long term use can result in inflammatory or neoplastic changes, particularly when the lung has a double burden of dealing with both tobacco and cannabis smoke. With reference to chronic substantial cannabis use and its impact on brain function, the definitive studies are yet to be done. If clinical impressions are meaningful, some people, especially young people, can sustain temporary and perhaps permanent impairment of nonintoxicated mental performance.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Cannabis; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Neoplasms; Marijuana Abuse; Motivation; Pneumonia; Social Behavior Disorders

Topics: Aerosols; Animals; Cannabis; Feces; Female; Lung; Macrophages; Male; Organ Size; Phytotherapy; Pneumonia; Rats; Sex Factors; Time Factors

Complications resulting from drug abuse more frequently affect the lung than any other organ. The spectrum of pulmonary complications associated with drug abuse is wide. The current practice of using mixtures of drugs is mainly responsible for the increase in pulmonary complications. The chief complications observed in a series of 241 drug abuse patients were aspiration pneumonitis (12.9 percent), pulmonary edema (10.0 percent), and pneumonia (7.5 percent).

Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Cocaine; Coma; Female; Heroin; Humans; Lung Abscess; Lung Diseases; Male; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Pulmonary Atelectasis; Pulmonary Edema; Pulmonary Embolism; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Alkaline Phosphatase; Amenorrhea; Amphetamine; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Child; Cocaine; Eosinophilia; False Positive Reactions; Female; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Hepatitis B; Heroin; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Juvenile Delinquency; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Peptic Ulcer; Pneumonia; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders