Nicotine or Weed: Which Is Worse For Your Overall Health?

The debate between nicotine and weed—which substance is more harmful to human health—is only getting more intense.

If you’re thinking, “I only vape weed, my lungs aren’t as bad as someone who vapes nicotine,” think again. With cannabis legalization spreading and vape technologies transforming how weed and nicotine are consumed, knowing the risks of your habits is essential.

While we know that tobacco is harmful, the public health research around the health impacts of vaping cannabis and nicotine is pretty interesting.

Let’s take a look at the evidence to determine whether nicotine or weed is worse for overall health.

Nicotine and weed are two substances with vast differences in their active compounds and how they interact with the human body.

Nicotine: This is the addictive compound in tobacco products that gets people hooked on cigarettes or nicotine vapes. It’s a stimulant that binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain to make you feel temporarily more alert with a “head rush.” Nicotine exposure consistently affects the cardiovascular system by increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

Cannabis: The cannabis plant contains over 100 cannabinoids, including the classically known tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These compounds interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system through specific cannabinoid receptors, including CB1 and CB2. Using cannabis can produce psychoactive effects, or the feeling of being “high,” which is often associated with weed.

So, is nicotine worse than weed? There are a few things we need to take into consideration before coming to that conclusion.

Using tobacco or marijuana means you’re inhaling smoke with some form of harmful substance, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulates that can damage lung tissue.

Tobacco smoke is particularly harmful and linked to many respiratory conditions:

• Emphysema
• Lung damage
• Chronic bronchitis
• Significantly increased lung cancer risk
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Marijuana smoke may be considered slightly safer since it doesn’t contain tobacco, but regular cannabis smoke exposure is associated with:

• Decreased lung function with long-term use
• Increased respiratory infections
• Chronic bronchitis symptoms
• Airway inflammation

Interestingly, a recent animal study published in Thorax found that not all vaping is the same. In mice, vaping CBD was found to increase lung inflammation and injury compared to nicotine aerosol. CBD vape exposure also appeared to be more toxic to human small airway epithelial cells than nicotine exposure was, and the authors concluded that there may be more health risks associated with vaping cannabinoids like CBD than there are with vaping nicotine.

So, while smoking tobacco is historically more harmful, smoking or vaping marijuana may come with its own set of respiratory risks.

When it comes to heart health, both nicotine and cannabis raise serious concerns.

Nicotine’s cardiovascular effects are well-documented, whether it’s consumed through traditional cigarettes or e-cigarettes. These include:

• Constriction of blood vessels
• Increased risk of atherosclerosis
• Strong association with heart attacks and strokes
• Immediate increase in heart rate and blood pressure

Cannabis isn’t harmless either. A large study from the American College of Cardiology found that daily cannabis users face a much higher risk of heart attack compared to non-users. In addition, a Journal of the American Heart Association study looked into the association of cannabis use and cardiovascular outcomes in U.S. adults, finding that cannabis smoke exposure can impair vascular function in similar ways to tobacco smoke. Both cannabis and tobacco smoke can reduce blood vessel dilation and increase the risk of heart disease over time.

Cancer risk is the biggest difference between nicotine and cannabis.

Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide. It’s linked to at least 16 different cancer types, including lung, throat, and pancreatic cancers.

Nicotine itself is not classified as a direct carcinogen. It doesn’t directly initiate cancer, but research suggests it may promote the growth and spread of existing cancer cells. In other words, nicotine may not cause cancer on its own, but it can make certain cancers more aggressive. Nevertheless, nicotine’s primary health risks are less cancer-related and more strongly tied to cardiovascular health.

The relationship between marijuana and cancer is a bit more complex. A 2021 review in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that when it came to nonmedical cannabis use:

• There is limited evidence linking cannabis smoking to lung cancer
• There are potential anti-tumor effects of certain cannabinoids in laboratory studies
• There are possible associations with testicular cancer, though the data is preliminary

The nicotine vs weed feeling is very different. Nicotine is all physical with a sense of mental relief, whereas cannabis is intoxicating and produces a feeling of being “high.”

Even though people use nicotine for short-term relief, research shows it actually increases anxiety with regular use. A new study in Frontiers in Psychiatry showed that nicotine dependence is linked to higher depression rates and increased stress sensitivity over time.

On the other hand, at low doses, THC can reduce anxiety for some cannabis users. Those with lower tolerances or using high-THC dosages may experience increased anxiety and paranoia.

A recent American Heart Association study found that both vaping nicotine and THC were associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms in teens and young adults. At the issue’s core, neither substance is generally good for healthy mood regulation, especially in developing brains.

The question remains: Who’s getting judged more, marijuana smokers or tobacco smokers? And yes, this goes for weed vapers vs. nicotine vapers, too.

Smoking cigarettes usually gets the most judgment, since there’s convincing data and decades worth of research pointing towards its health effects and risks.

• Smoking restrictions in public spaces
• Graphic warning labels on packaging
• Public health campaigns highlighting dangers
• Social pressure against smoking, especially among younger generations

And then, vaping came along. What started as a respectable way to quit cigarettes has turned into its own subculture—and it’s not judged similarly to tobacco smokers. Nicotine users often feel judged or pressured to quit, especially since a lot of them weren’t addicted to nicotine in the first place.

It’s no secret that the cannabis plant has had a remarkable glow-up in recent years.

• Shift from criminalization to medical marijuana acceptance and recreational legalization
• Repositioning as a wellness product in many markets
• Celebrity endorsements and mainstream commercial brands
• Often seen as “natural” compared to pharmaceuticals

This makes weed a lot more tolerated in public places, even though it’s still technically illegal to consume cannabis in public in states where recreational use is legal. Still, the public perception is starting to lean more towards welcoming marijuana use instead of stigmatizing it.

Context matters—a lot.

Urban settings tend to be more health-conscious, with nicotine users, especially tobacco users, facing a stronger social stigma than cannabis users. On the other hand, in more conservative regions or professional settings, cannabis use is still very much seen as the devil’s lettuce.

Age also influences perception. You’ll often find that younger generations are more accepting of cannabis but will reject a cigarette. It’s pretty clear: tobacco use is declining while cannabis use is on the rise.

So, which is safer? When it comes to nicotine vs weed, there are several factors to consider:

Consumption Method Matters: Smoking nicotine or weed means you’re inhaling harmful combustion products. Vaping reduces some risks but introduces others. Edible cannabis is usually the safest way to go, as long as you know your dose.

Frequency and Amount: Occasional cannabis use is fine—everything in moderation. But daily use can be concerning. The same goes for nicotine, though its addictive nature often leads to regular consumption patterns.

Individual Factors: Personal health history, genetics, age, and existing conditions will affect how both nicotine exposure and weed impact your health. Someone with a family history of schizophrenia faces different cannabis risks than someone with a family history of heart disease who uses nicotine.

Based on current scientific evidence, tobacco and nicotine seem to be worse for your overall health than cannabis. Still, this doesn’t mean cannabis is risk-free—it comes with its own set of risks that all users should be aware of.