For many decades, tobacco was marketed as an inevitable element of leisure, an antidote to stress, or a social connector. The story has shifted, however: there is increasing fervor about the harms of nicotine causing many to consider cannabis as an alternative. Switching from tobacco to cannabis, is not about swapping one leaf for another; it is a re-examination of physiology, psychology, and cultural constructs of consumption.
Cannabis does not have the same tried and true portfolio of carcinogenic additives as tobacco, the latter being responsible for much of the global epidemic. But pretending cannabis has no risk or consequence would be misleading. Smoke of any kind has implications for the respiratory system, and it is not just a matter of whether cannabis is “safer,” but whether the act of inhalation should be considered at all (as in, choosing to smoke, vaporize, eat or tincture).
There are important physiological distinctions between tobacco and cannabis:
- Tobacco contains nicotine, a chemical designed for the rapid development of physical dependence on a commodity.
- Cannabis contains cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, that act on the endocannabanoid system rather than the cardiovascular stimulation of nicotine.
- Cigarettes contain additives and chemicals to enhance the combustion element; cannabis flower is not usually smoked in its unadulterated form.
The relative risks differ: there is lung stress in both cases, but without nicotine each is unlikely to have similar usage patterns. Switching carries its own psychological layers and complexity. Nicotine is not a simple chemical; it is capable of creating intense cycles of craving and relief that are not paralleled in cannabis use. Some find this aspect liberating. For some, having the predictability of a “kick” from tobacco is an essential aspect in their struggle with any cannabis use. For them, substitution becomes more than a health consideration. It necessitates the reprogramming of expectation, learning to appreciate a similar elevation that is subtler and not a direct jolt.
Psychological adjustments when replacing tobacco use with cannabis or any other psychoactive substance:
- Accept a slower onset and more subtle sensations of elevation.
- Break the craving and pleasure cycles unique to nicotine.
- Moderation must be developed since highs from cannabis last much longer than the buzz from cigarette.
- Redefine smoking as mindful use, not compulsive need.
Culturally, moving towards cannabis use(s) away from tobacco is also a break from an industrial system that was built upon manipulation. Tobacco companies engineered their cigarettes to maximize people’s addictions to tobacco. For cannabis culture that is defined by strain, grower, and eventually shared experience, the reality of moving from tobacco to cannabis is taking a habit out of the corporate narrative and to a plant- based use.
That said, a degree of nuance is still warranted. Switching is a sign of progress but should not be equated with the totality away from tobacco if it is not accompanied with moderation, awareness, and attention to bodily signals.
Responsible practices for the switch:
- When possible, switch to a vaporizer or edibles to avoid smoking.
- When using cannabis, focus on the strain that has a cannabinoid profile that assists relaxation or focus- not compulsion.
- Use cannabis socially, and as a part of shared experience rather than replicating a solitary smoke break with a form of cannabis.
Pay attention to dosage – a potent strain of cannabis can be overwhelming for someone who is used to an occasional cigarette or two.
A joint rolled with cannabis flower is not quite the same as smoking a nicotine cigarette, though again, it is not entirely without its costs. The focus should be on the reframing of the habitual action, that smoking is – smoke as compulsion can become cannabis as choice, cannabis as ritual, when at its best – cannabis is food for our health.
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