Question: I am a 33 year old man looking for much needed piece of mind, please can you help.

I am suffering with severe anxiety following the passing of my mother last year from Lung Cancer, she was a smoker of 26 years.

Regretfully, I previously smoked cannabis for 9 years intermittently but have now quit for 1.5 years and absolutely will not be doing this again, I am now teetotal due to my past. I used to smoke on average 8-10 joints per week, but did have long periods of abstinence.

I have read a historical articles in the newspaper regarding potential 'contaminated' cannabis in circulation throughout the UK, aptly given the street name 'grit weed'. The contamination specifically involved small glass particles and silicone spray. There are some really scary stories that this could result in users developing Silicosis in the lungs .

However, experts from the Imperial College London state that these particles are too large to be ingested.

Also, when this substance was smoked, there were noted symptoms of tight chest, coughing and mouth sores, all of which I have not had. I am actually in good health and have never had any persistent coughs to speak of.

Do you suggest that I need to arrange an X-Ray or CT scan? Or given my limited exposure, and the length of time and level of exposure required to acquire silicosis, there is no need. I certainly hope the latter is the case!

My anxiety is very high at the moment and I'm really hoping you can help as I don't know where to turn.

Thank you so much

That is fantastic Doctor, thank you so much.

So in your opinion, there is no need to have a chest x-Ray? These are not offered on the NHS under these circumstances so I would prefer not to have to pay privately.
Plus, I hugely trust your judgement
And this will be sufficient for my anxiety doctor

Am I right I thinking that the exposure to this dust poses a risk when on a daily basis over a number of years?