Study links heavy marijuana use to increased risk for certain cancers

Aug 9

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

Regular, heavy marijuana use could increase the risk for head and neck cancers. A new study shows people who used cannabis on a daily basis over years were up to 5% more likely to develop these kinds of cancers.

Researchers found those with cannabis use disorder are particularly at risk. Cannabis use disorder is diagnosed with two or more addictive behaviors associated with weed, which include cravings, becoming tolerant to its effects, using more than intended, using marijuana even though it causes problems in life, using it in high-risk situations, experiencing withdrawal and being unable to quit, according to the CDC.

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Researchers said the study did not differentiate between methods of marijuana consumption – but they said the association likely “pertains mainly to smoked cannabis.”

Researchers also pointed out the study does not find an association between occasional, recreational use of marijuana and head and neck cancers.

Tags: Cancer, cannabis, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana, Smoking

REGULAR, HEAVY MARIJUANA USE COULD INCREASE THE RISK FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCERS.

A NEW STUDY SHOWS PEOPLE WHO USED CANNABIS ON A DAILY BASIS OVER YEARS WERE UP TO 5 PERCENT MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP THESE KINDS OF CANCERS.

RESEARCHERS FOUND THOSE WITH CANNABIS USE DISORDER ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK.

THOSE WITH CANNABIS USE DISORDER ARE DIAGNOSED WITH TWO OR MORE ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH WEED…

THOSE INCLUDE CRAVINGS…

BECOMING TOLERANT TO ITS EFFECTS…

USING MORE THAN INTENDED…

USING MARIJUANA EVEN THOUGH IT CAUSES PROBLEMS IN LIFE…

USING IT IN HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS…

EXPERIENCING WITHDRAWAL…

AND BEING UNABLE TO QUIT, ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C.

RESEARCHERS SAID THE STUDY DID *NOT* DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN METHODS OF MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION – BUT THEY SAY THE ASSOCIATION THEY FOUND LIKELY “PERTAINS MAINLY TO SMOKED CANNABIS.”

RESEARCHERS ALSO POINTED OUT THE STUDY DOES *NOT* FIND AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OCCASIONAL RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA – AND HEAD AND NECK CANCERS.