This Week's Wellness Topic

Smoking Marijuana and the effects on Vocal Cords

It's "Wellness Wednesday" !

My posts and writing usually come out of issues that come out of clients and people I interact with that I think are important to address. Recently I have been focused on Vocal Health.

So instead of talking about supplements or gut health this week, I want to talk about vocal cord health….specifically the effects of smoking ANYTHING on the vocal cords.

Disclaimer: I am not a vocal therapist. I am merely compiling research form ENT doctors, vocal therapist and neurologists to pass onto my clients and readers.

Why this subject?

I have been a little surprised to learn how many college-level Musical Theatre performers and aspiring professionals smoke marijuana or vape. The legalization of Cannabis in many states has increased the use smoking marijuana. Unfortunately, just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s healthy for everyone.

I thought to myself, maybe there is some research I don’t know about that says there is no effect on the vocal cords from smoking marijuana or vaping. So, I took a dive into the research with an open mind. I have included a few links to articles for you to read yourself.

The truth:

The truth is that smoking anything is detrimental to the vocal cords. Any smoke or vape chemicals are irritants to the vocal folds. When the vocal folds are irritated, they are set up for drying out, forming nodes, and forming cysts.

Nothing ruins a singing career like a vocal injury. If surgery is needed, it involves a yearlong recovery of no talking for months and then many more months of rehab. Then you hope that the surgery didn’t scar your cords so you can still sing. So protecting the vocal cords, a singer's instrument and livelihood, is paramount.

If you are reading “advice” on reddit and social media ( I looked at those too) you will see a number of people claiming its harmless and pointing to rock stars like Willie Nelson, Bob Marley, or even Miley Cyrus and others who are famous for their cannabis use. Here is the difference, a rock stars vocals are very different than a musical theatre and a classical vocal performer voice. No one cares that Stevie Nicks voice got increasingly raspier as she got older. That fit her brand. But the world certainly judges when Idina Menzel can't hit the notes of her most famous songs. Adele, Sam Smith, Steven Tyler, and Julie Andrews just to name a few have had to have vocal cord surgery. Belting and singing 8 times a week is really hard on the vocal cords so adding anything else is stacking the deck in the wrong direction for a life-long career.

In Musical theatre, Opera or Vocal performance you still have to be able to hit the high belting notes and the range that the song was written in. A trained director can hear the differences in a voice that has been damaged in some way. Even my local high school chorus director reports she can tell when students are smoking or vaping. It comes out in their voice and the sound of the notes.

The question:

The question is why are performers smoking and vaping? Is it just for fun or is it for true therapeutic purposes?

The argument for cannabis use is the huge mental wellness piece that comes with being a performer. Many people will say it helps their mental wellness. That might indeed be true in the short term. My advice is to seek out a professional who is experienced with cannabis for mental health and talk about non-smoking alternatives.

I am by no means an expert in this area but I am intrigued by products like Cannabis honey and other products. There are also a ton of Hemp and THC-free CBD products on the market that have many health benefits. My suggestion is to start with exploring non-THC products before jumping to anything including THC. Talk to professionals with advice backed by science and research.

I will note though that in my research, most neurologists looking at the brain do not recommend long term use of any cannabis/THC. It does indeed cause negative changes in the brain. So, while it may be useful short term there may be long term brain effects that we are still learning about. I always suggest working with a professional when looking for therapeutic benefits of cannabis or any wellness regime.

It is a hard topic and my recommendations are not always a crowd pleasers. However, I will always look at what is in the best interests of performers in the Theatre Industry.

My Favorite Tips/Products for Vocal Cord Health:

• Vocal Rest
• Raw Manuka Honey
• Herbal teas & lots of water
• Fontus Lozenges
• Grether's Pastilles lozenges
• Shire City Fire Cider
• 7-9 hours of Sleep
• Minimize Alcohol consumption
• Meditation
• Reflux reducing diet

Product Links:

Not a regular subscriber?

Health Coaching

The real work and education at Theatre RN happens in my coaching sessions. If you want to explore your own unique whole wellness, contact me for a free consult: Nicole@theatreRN.com

As always my business is primarily a word of mouth business. Please share this Newsletter and my services with friends.

Until Next time, I will be over here behind the curtain advocating for the best health & wellness for all in the Theatre Industry.

Health and Happiness,

Nicole, your Theatre RN

​
​

​