Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Abuse – Community Impact Practice Test

Secondhand exposure happens when someone who isn’t using marijuana breathes in the smoke or aerosol released by a user. This matters because marijuana smoke contains irritants and toxins similar to tobacco smoke, which can irritate airways, cause coughing, wheeze, and bronchitis-like symptoms, and may contribute to changes in lung function with repeated exposure. When vaping or using aerosolized products, the emitted aerosol can still carry THC and other compounds that nonusers can inhale, and these particles can linger in the air, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. In youth and other developing brains, exposure to THC through secondhand smoke or aerosol can affect neurodevelopment, with potential impacts on attention, memory, and learning. So secondhand exposure is not harmless, can occur via aerosols, and can affect nonusers, particularly young people. The other statements miss these risks by claiming no harm, or asserting that only users are affected, or denying aerosol exposure.