Breathe Free USA
Educating on the true cost of cannabis in our society
Can cannabis be integrated into society in a way that is legal, safe, and healthy for everyone?
Breathe Free USA has researched this question extensively and here's what we've found...
1. Cannabis is Neurotoxic, Genotoxic, and Carcinogenic
Whether it's marijuana, CBD, or hemp, whether it's smoke, vape, lotion, or oil extract, all cannabis and any extract from the plant is neurotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic.
What does that mean? Sooner or later, cannabis will cause individual and population level health problems, like:
- Autism
- Cancer
- Early aging
- DNA damage transmissible multiple generations
- And much, much more!
Research by Dr. Stuart Reece
These health harms and the causal mechanisms in cannabis are well documented by Dr. Stuart Reece, a Clinical Doctor and Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Australia Medical School. Dr. Reece has conducted extensive research showing the role of cannabis in the following conditions:
Toxicity Acknowledgement in California
Notably, one of the most pro-legalization states in the US has acknowledged cannabis toxicity. In its Proposition 65 List, the state of California recognizes that marijuana smoke and THC cause developmental toxicity and / or cancer
2. Cannabis Is Highly Polluting and Absorbable and Is Getting Into Our Air, Food, and Water
Cannabis has been shown to be highly polluting to the air, due to the amount of airborne fine particles it releases. Far from having similar pollution levels to cigarettes, vaped or dabbed cannabis creates the same level of pollution as the worst wildfires!
In a study of cannabis grow facilities, researchers detected high levels of airborne volatile organic compounds that were emitted both from the plant itself and from the oil extraction process. The emissions from the cannabis plant triggered the formation of ground-level ozone, a toxic substance that is harmful to breathe.
Furthermore, cannabis can has been shown to travel quite a distance, as noted in this article in which cannabis farm odors were detected more than a mile from their source.
High emissions plus long travel distance lead to greater third-hand exposure, illustrated in a study in which cannabis was detected on indoor surfaces of a well-ventilated building in which people had vaped.
ASHRAE, the organization of engineers who develop standards for building ventilation, has determined that ventilation systems cannot eliminate smoked or vaped cannabis.
Indoor and outdoor air pollution is particularly troubling in light of certain properties of cannabis, natural and engineered, that make it highly absorbable in the human body, including through the skin.
Cannabis has an unusually high number of terpenes that give off different fragrances, have different effects (analgesic, sedative, etc.), and increase the body's potential to absorb and be affected by cannabis. Many cannabis products (vapes, lotions, etc.) are now also made with nanoparticulate matter, which makes cannabis easier to absorb through skin, inhalation, and ingestion; more able to penetrate barriers within the body; and more toxic.
This high absorption potential is true for both users and those exposed second- or third-hand.
Dr. Reece's research also points to cannabis contamination in the food chain and water in the US, Europe, and Austalia. Other research shows a concerning number of trespass cannabis grows in national forests in California and Oregon, indicating the broad reach of cannabis contamination and its potential to affect wildlife and the food chain.
Secondhand & Thirdhand Exposure
In short, we have an inherently toxic, highly absorbable substance with a high pollution potential and documented signs of environmental contamination. Sources of contamination include personal use and cannabis grow and processing operations.
The variety of odors cannabis can now present, plus the lack of detection equipment, make it difficult for people to know how often and to how much they are being exposed. The increase in the cannabis-related health issues discussed in Dr. Reece's research - cancers, autism, birth defects, etc. - suggests that population level exposure is alarmingly high.
3. Cannabis Normalization & Decriminalization Increases Transnational Criminal Activity, Threatening Communities and National Security
In September 2025, a hearing in Congress was conducted to discuss Chinese illegal marijuana grows and associated criminal networks. These networks are more complex and sophisticated than anything law enforcement has encountered before. Many illegal grows are situated near critical infrastructure, such as military bases, pipelines, etc. These operations are often more heavily armed than local law enforcement. Local and state law enforcement do not have adequate resources to address the problem. These criminal networks are growing and pose a serious national security threat.
Illegal grows are associated with an increase in violent criminal activity, including homicides. A quadruple murder by a Chinese national at an illegal Oklahoma grow was reported in multiple news sources across the country.
Journalist Jorge Ventura produced two documentaries on the infiltration of foreign cartels into northern and southern California communities. Local communities are in fear for their safety and unable to combat the problem. Local law enforcement might be shot at when approaching the grow sites, or might be unable to respond due to under-staffing, inadequate resources, and lack of support from the state and federal level. When law enforcement are successful in taking down a grow, it may be operational again in a few weeks.
Contrary to the theory that marijuana legalization would reduce or eliminate the black market, transnational criminal activity has grown since legalization, is flourishing throughout the country, and is further nurtured by the passage of state-specific liberal laws and reduced penalties for illegal grows.
In short:
The normalization and acceptance of cannabis carries a steep cost for individual health, population-level health, and public safety.
And we're not the only ones who think so.
Check out these letters of warning to the FDA, UK Parliament, and Australian TGA.
Featured Articles:
Legislation, Enforcement, & Safety
In the wake of the Executive Order to reschedule marijuana, we are featuring articles on related legal issues, as well as ongoing legal and safety issues in the cannabis industry.
