Grant: Team Grant: Cannabis Research in Priority Areas - Cardio-Respiratory/Sleep

Almost 5 million Canadians smoke cannabis, but the effect that cannabis smoking has on their lungs is unclear. Some people think there is no harm caused by cannabis smoking, while others believe that cannabis smoking can significantly damage the lung like cigarette smoking does. Our study will look at a large population of around 1,200 Canadians to help settle the debate. We aim to describe what happens to the lung after cannabis smoking on multiple levels, looking at important health events and outcomes, breathing tests, imaging, and airway cells collected through a procedure called bronchoscopy. How all of these change in comparison to people who have never smoked and people who smoke cigarettes will be tested. The findings will help Canadians understand the long-term effects of cannabis smoking on their lungs. As well, they will help inform health care workers who will be counselling patients on cannabis smoking and potentially treating lung diseases that may be associated with cannabis smoking. Our analyses of the overall impact of cannabis smoking on the Canadian health care system from a cost and resource standpoint will also help to guide policy makers and health economists as to the burden of cannabis smoking on the Canadian health care system.