Marijuana Tar Levels Seven Times Higher Than Cigarettes

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Marijuana smoke has seven times more tar and carbon monoxide than cigarette smoke and the health risks of smoking three joints are about equal to the risks from a whole pack of cigarettes, according to a French National Consumers' Institute study.

The study also found that marijuana smoke contains more toxic chemicals than cigarette smoke.

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Researchers used an artificial smoking machine to compare 280 specially rolled joints of marijuana leaves and resin to regular Marlboro cigarettes. The machine measured the smoke's content for tar and carbon monoxide, and for the toxic chemicals benzene, nicotine and toluene, Agence France Presse reported.

The study also found that a person who smokes a joint of cannabis resin rolled with tobacco will inhale twice the amount of benzene and three times the amount of toluene than someone who smokes a regular cigarette.

People who smoke pure marijuana leaves will also inhale more of these toxic chemicals than they would from a regular cigarette, AFP reported.

The findings were published in the April issue of the institute's magazine.

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