Is it the chemical makeup of nicotine vs THC/CBD? Given the fact they are both smoked, and burnt plant matter are both inhaled in the lungs, it is said that burnt tobacco smoke is more carcinogenic than cannabis smoke. Also, cannabis is used medicinally and therapeutically whereas tobacco is not.
Edit: I am aware that cannabis is better used medicinally as a tincture or in a non-smoked method (i.e. edibles). That would be the safest method of consumption.
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The top answers are incorrect. The really deadly compounds are *tobacco specific nitrosamines (*[TSNAs)](https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00367), which is not really an explain like I’m five answer. As the name implies, they are amines specific to the tobacco plant primarily produced during the curing process and are what make it uniquely carcinogenic compared to other generic plant combustion. No one says it’s good to light something on fire and inhale it. But the fact remains that tobacco in particular contains unique compounds that are extra bad. Not the nicotine, not the plethora of miscellaneous organics that get combusted… TSNAs are what set it apart.
The explain like I’m five version is, well, tobacco in particular is much worse for you because of the stuff in it.
TSNA also appear to be broken down by pasteurization as evidenced by their absence from snus products compared to their high presence in snuff and cigarettes. Hypothetically, one might be able to produce a safer cigarette by pasteurization, but legally you would never be able to say that.
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