Can You Get Lung Cancer From Smoking Weed?

Extensive research has been carried out to determine whether marijuana has any connection whatsoever to cancer. While it may be too soon to try to get rid of the stigma attached to smoking weed, studies carried out over a number of years reveal that most marijuana users have the same chances of getting cancer as nonusers.

In one such study, heavy weed users- those who have smoked more than 22,000 joints in their lifetime- were examined and the same conclusion was reached. This research conducted by Donald Taskin, MD of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, basis its findings on the fact that even though marijuana contains some of the same carcinogens as tobacco smoke, it does not pose a threat of cancer like the latter does.

The 1040 patients in the study had a history of smoking weed but were not diagnosed with cancer. These were compared to 611 Lung Cancer patients and 601 Head or Neck Cancer patients. After a close analysis of their lifestyle, drug and alcohol usage, the research concluded that those who smoked two or more packs of tobacco cigarettes a day had a 20 times higher chance of getting cancer. However, the same statistics did not apply to noncancer- heavy marijuana users.

Even though the findings of this research are clear, the camp asserting the ills of smoking weed is also densely packed with supporters. These opponents of marijuana legalization assert that since pot contains 50% more cancer-causing compounds than tobacco, and weed smokers hold in the smoke for much longer than their cigarette smoking counterparts, it shouldn’t be cleared off even on the basis of empirical findings.

So why didn’t Taskin, and various other researchers, find a connection between smoking weed and cancer? Well, the answer isn’t as obvious as you would like it to be. The reasons for marijuana being a safer alternative remain unclear as of now. Many experts believe that this is due to the presence of THC, the active compound found in pot. THC is deemed to have antitumor properties that stop marijuana smoke from causing cancer.

Molecular studies in animals have gone as far as to reveal that THC may have the ability to block blood flow to cancerous cells, hence not only being noncancerous, but also reducing the side effects of this disease in those who undergo chemotherapy.

To sum up, it would be safe to say that at present, there is no connection between smoking weed and lung cancer. With ongoing research and continued probing into the effects of marijuana on the human body, more and more evidence will soon be available for us to basis conclusions on.