What Happens When You Quit Smoking & Start Vaping Vapourcore Academy of Cannabis Science 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, Understanding the Risks of Vaping on Lung Health E Cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury New England Journal of Medicine