Tobacco Use and COPD American Lung Association Guidance for Healthcare Providers on Evaluating and Tracking Patient Use of E Cigarettes or ENDS Products American Lung Association Marijuana and Your Lungs: Is Vaping Safe for People with COPD? 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,