Vaping vs Smoking: Effects and Tips for Protecting Your Lungs Max Hospital Research Shows Emphysema More Common in Marijuana Smokers Than Cigarette Smokers Smoking cigarettes has long been proven to cause severe lung damage, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and lung cancer. Over time, cigarette smoke destroys lung tissue, fills airways with tar, More evidence that e cigs damage lung health independent of smoking Stanton Glantz blog