Cannabis

Smoking 5: THC

THC is easily absorbed into the bloodstream through the air sacs in the lungs. The THC concentration in the blood reaches a higher peak after smoking cannabis than when THC is ingested by eating spacecake.

When cannabis is smoked neat, it is 5 times more damaging to the lungs than ordinary tobacco smoke. That is mainly because you inhale cannabis smoke more deeply and hold your breath longer.

Some people believe they absorb more THC by holding the smoke longer in the lungs. That is a myth. All the THC that can possibly be absorbed has entered the bloodstream within 2 seconds after the smoke is inhaled. Holding the smoke longer does increase the damaging effects, because more tar sticks to the air sacs and more carbon monoxide (CO) reaches the blood.