If you're speaking solely of respiratory issues, of course not smoking is better, but there are unique risks with the edibles. We're back to the edibles again. For example, youth who are experimenting with edibles may be expecting to feel the effects of the cannabis sooner because of either what they've heard or what they've experienced with smoking it. There are reports in the literature of concerns that youth, when they are consuming edibles, will consume more and more because their body hasn't metabolized it yet and they haven't had the high yet from it, resulting in significant overdose and ingestion.
On September 13th, 2017. See this statement in context.