The Association Between Marijuana Smoking and Lung Cancer

Abstract

Given the prevalence of marijuana smoking and studies predominantly supporting biological plausibility of an association of marijuana smoking with lung cancer on the basis of molecular, cellular, and histopathologic findings, physicians should advise patients regarding potential adverse health outcomes until further rigorous studies are performed that permit definitive conclusions.

Cannabis: the next villain on the lung cancer battlefield?

“…The study confirms preliminary conclusions [7] using a population-based, case-control study that avoids the bias of hospital-based studies. As in the tobacco story, we are now confronted with evidence and have to switch from a statistical association to the biological indication that some components of cannabis itself or cannabis smoke are real lung carcinogens, able to induce oncogenic molecular changes in the respiratory tract.…”

Association Between Cannabis Use and the Risk of Bladder Cancer: Results From the California Men's Health Study

“…Recent data indicate the prevalence of cannabis use is increasing with an estimated cumulative lifetime incidence of >40% in the United States. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] With the discovery of specific cannabinoid receptors, there has been a recent resurgence in experimental research on the effects of cannabinoids, which are the active components of cannabis. Studies have found that cannabinoids inhibit tumor cell growth and induce apoptosis in various cancer cells.…”

The burden of disease attributable to cannabis use in Canada in 2012

“…Despite the biological plausibility, evidence from longitudinal studies was mixed, whereas case-control studies converged towards an elevated risk of lung cancer [5,6]. These inconsistencies were due in part to the substantial overlap with tobacco smoking, and the inability to adjust fully for its confounding effects [21]. Limited evidence from longitudinal studies also suggested dose-response effects [22].…”