Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 24, 2020

10

Mountain View News Saturday, October 24, 2020 


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges


MEEKO & MIKA

Such a precious pair! So sweet, 
only 8 weeks old. A little black 
& white duo. Meeko is the 
male and Mika is his sister. 
Meeko has an all white nose, 
while Mika has a little black 
spot on hers. Remember that 
kittens are tiny and adorable; 
however, they grow quickly 
and need continued socialization 
to remain sweet and friendly. Home delivery on or before 
December. They will be vetted, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, 
micro-chipped, and more! Use our “Two-fur” deal. Apply at 
www.lifelineforpets.org. (See the Adoption Procedures page.)


DANGERS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE FROM 
MARIJUANA

I’m allergic to marijuana smoke. When I first smell it nearby, I think it’s the 
smell of a skunk that got hit by a car. Then, I quickly realize, no, not a skunk, 
just someone getting high. If I see them, I walk over, and ask, politely, “Can 
you please go somewhere else? I’m allergic to your smoke.” The first kneejerk 
reaction is nearly always, “Hey, it’s legal.” And my response, “I wasn’t talking 
legal. I said your smoke is bothering me.” And then, I often am able to add, 
“And how old are you? 16? I don’t think it’s legal for you, and I don’t think it’s legal to smoke in 
this public place,” whereupon the person usually disappears in a huff.

I’m not a fan of getting high, or doing anything that impairs my ability to function and to think 
as clearly as possible. But that’s a subject for another day. 

If you wish to smoke marijuana, that’s your business. However, just like non-tobacco smokers 
don’t wish to have tobacco smoke in their breathing-air, non-marijuana smokers don’t care for 
marijuana smoke either. Did you know that marijuana second-hand smoke has many risk factors, 
just like tobacco? 

For example, secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same cancer-causing substances 
and toxic chemicals as secondhand tobacco smoke. Some of the known carcinogens or 
toxins present in marijuana smoke include: acetaldehyde, ammonia arsenic, benzene, cadmium, 
chromium, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, isoprene, lead, mercury, nickel, and quinoline. 
Marijuana smoke contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active chemical in cannabis, so, yes, 
“contact high” is a very real thing.

And there are specific health risks of exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke. Secondhand 
smoke from combusted marijuana contains fine particulate matter that can be breathed deeply 
into the lungs, which can cause lung irritation, asthma attacks, and makes respiratory infections 
more likely. Exposure to fine particulate matter can exacerbate health problems especially for 
people with respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, or COPD.

Significant amounts of mercury, cadmium, nickel, lead, hydrogen cyanide, and chromium are in 
marijuana smoke. Three times the amount of ammonia is found in marijuana smoke compared 
to tobacco smoke.

In general, secondhand smoke from marijuana has many of the same chemicals as smoke from 
tobacco, including those linked to lung cancer, harmful cardiovascular health effects, such as 
atherosclerosis (partially blocked arteries), heart attack, and stroke. Tobacco is a legal drug, and 
no one has ever claimed that there are no detrimental health effects from smoking it. Now, it’s 
the same with marijuana. Don’t fool yourself and believe that there are no health effects from 
marijuana merely because the laws have been relaxed.

Just like non-tobacco smokers have a right to be free of smoke in public and work places, we 
should also insist upon that same condition with marijuana, legal or not. If you don’t like marijuana 
smoke in your public atmosphere, just speak up. Ask the person to smoke elsewhere. 

For the record, I am of the opinion that the excessive use of alcohol is far worse for the body and 
mind than marijuana, simply based on the totality of available evidence. The fact that alcohol 
is legal and will probably always be legal means that for you to suffer no harm, you have to take 
great personal responsibility for your own health -- the health of your mind and your body.

Thanks to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, from which many of these facts were 
derived. (Originally published Mountain Views News/October 2019)

Pet of the Week

 
Five-year-old beauty Mimi is looking for a quiet 
home with space to relax in and explore. This sweet 
girl is doing really well in her foster home, already 
adjusting to her new surroundings in just a couple 
weeks. Her foster parent says that Mimi is very 
smart and can even open the bathroom cupboard to 
find the ideal napping spot within! When she’s not 
discovering new nap spots, Mimi likes to hang out 
with her foster parent, have conversations, eat, and 
play. She’s even testing the waters with lap time and 
snuggles. Imagine how affectionate this cat will be 
with the stability of a forever home!

 Mimi is eligible for a 30-day adoption trial. Take her home for a month, get to know 
and love her, and we’ll provide all the supplies. At the end of 30 days, you can make 
your adoption official. Email foster@pasadenahumane.org to get your adoption trial 
started!

 The adoption fee for cats is $90. All cat adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, 
and age-appropriate vaccines.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care 
for your pet.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by 
phone calls or email.


PLEASE

STAY SAFE!

STAY COOL!

WEAR A MASK! 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com