A recent study conducted by the University of California Los Angeles concluded that marijuana smoking does not increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer.

Researchers had expected to find that heavy marijuana use would increase the risk of cancer.

The study, presented at the 2006 International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in San Diego, instead found no elevated cancer risk for even the heaviest smokers of marijuana.

Members of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws were not surprised by the study’s results.

“The most remarkable aspect of this study is that its findings are, in fact, unremarkable,” said Paul Armentano, senior policy analyst for the organization.

Armentano said there has never been conclusive evidence that marijuana causes cancer in humans and suggested that cannabis consumers who are concerned about smoke inhalation should consider engaging in vaporization rather than smoking.

Vaporization is a technique used to avoid the irritating respiratory toxins in marijuana smoke. Vaporizers heat cannabis to a temperature at which the psychoactive ingredients evaporate without causing combustion of the marijuana.

Armentano said the UCLA study reaffirms the results of prior case-control studies that dismiss the link between cannabis use and lung or upper aerodigestive tract cancers. Armentano cited a 2004 University of Washington study and 2001 Johns Hopkins University study, both of which found no connection between marijuana use and cancer.

The UCLA study took into account the subjects’ use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, diet, occupation and family history of cancer. The study found that one subset of moderate lifetime users actually had an inverse association between cannabis use and lung cancer.

Donald Tashkin, senior researcher and professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, said in a statement that he theorized that tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical in marijuana smoke that produces its psychotropic effect, may encourage aging damaged cells to die off before they become cancerous.

Despite the findings, many ISU students remain sensitive to public discussion of personal marijuana use.

An ISU student who didn’t want to be identified said he was not surprised by the study.

“I am not surprised that it does not cause cancer,” he said. “At the same time, though, I don’t think that inhaling burning smoke can really be good for you.”