Marijuana smoking and the risk of lung cancer: time for pause

February 11, 2013






The present medical literature on this issue is about as clear as were the medical and epidemiological literatures addressing lung cancer risks in cigarette smokers during the 1950s. Some population based (epidemiological) studies have concluded that smoking cannabis increases the risks, while others have suggested it doesn’t.

These studies, however, are limited by the fact that many marijuana smokers are also cigarette smokers, that some users mix tobacco and marijuana in their joint, and that the illegality of marijuana use may have influenced the willingness of participants to give honest answers regarding their use of marijuana, affecting the validity of the data used in these studies.

However, there are some facts that we should acknowledge. Laboratory work has demonstrated the occurrence of tissue, cellular and molecular pre-cancerous changes in the airways and lungs of cannabis users that are strikingly similar to those seen in cigarette smokers. Similarly, the carcinogenic effects of cannabis smoke have been demonstrated in both human and animal models: marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Additional factors that may contribute to the carcinogenic potential of marijuana smoke are the tendency for marijuana to burn at a higher temperature and that marijuana smoke is typically inhaled deeper and held longer than tobacco smoke (two factors that promote prolonged contact duration of potential carcinogens on the lung lining).

Some argue that one or two joints per day of exposure to these carcinogens does not even come close to the 1 -2 packs per day contact a cigarette smoker experiences. While this may mathematically make sense, the fact is that we do not know of a safe level for such exposures. Some have estimated that one-joint-a-day is equivalent to a one-pack-a-day use of cigarettes. A 2008 study from New Zealand estimated that each joint-year* of cannabis exposure increases the risk of lung cancer by 8% after adjusting for confounding variables including tobacco smoking. Lastly, there are also some hints that these cancers may occur at a younger age.

In the same way that making it legal does not make it safe, a lack of data does not mean that there are no serious long-term consequences of smoking marijuana purely for recreational purposes. As a member of the medical community, my fear is that if legalization of marijuana leads to more recreational use by our children and adolescents, we may see an increase in the incidence of lung cancer in the 40 and 50 year old population… 20 years from now.

(*3 joint-years is either 1 joint a day for 3 years or 3 joints per day for 1 year)

Topics: Cancer


Couldn't agree more.
Enough evidence exists to conduct human studies, and yet the government stymies real life research. Other than potential risk of lung cancer and the chance that some smokers may be habituated to it, it is the safest substance being used, and much less addictive than most prescription drugs. In fact �UCLA's Dr. Donald Tashkin studied heavy marijuana smokers to determine whether the use led to increased risk of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He had hypothesized that there would be a definitive link between cancer and marijuana smoking, yet the results proved otherwise."What we found instead was no association and even a suggestion of some protective effect," says Tashkin, whose research was the largest case-control study ever conducted. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.Tobacco smokers in the study had as much as a 21-fold increase in lung cancer risk. Cigarette smokers, too, developed COPD more often in the study, and researchers found that mar...
Tashkin�s study is one of many and from the early 1990s. For every study Dr Tashkin has published, one can find a study from a different group concluding differently. The most recent published epidemiological study was from New Zealand and reported by Aldington et al. in the European Respiratory Journal in 2008. (See below.) However, these are epidemiological studies with significant weaknesses, by nature. The real concern is that when one biopsies the airways of cannabis smokers one frequently finds cellular and molecular changes similar to those seen as in tobacco smokers who then develop cancer. Some of the components of cannabis may have been shown to have anti-tumoral effect in the lab but there is a strong possibility that by delivering these compounds by smoking a joint, the destructive and pro-inflammatory reactions it exposes the lining of the airways outweigh and surpass any protective potential THC may harbor. A word of advice, brownies are much safer for your lungs�"The risk of lung cancer i...
I'm sorry doctor, but you are taking information related to studies on smoking cigarettes from the early 60's and tying that into marijuana, yet scoffing at Sharon's data because it's from the early 90's.Tashkin's studies were actually published in 2006.How about we bring more recent data into the conversation? How about data from this year? Specifically, the AACR from April of 2013."Our pooled results showed no significant association between the intensity, duration, or cumulative consumption of cannabis smoke and the risk of lung cancer overall or in never smokers. Cannabis use is under international control and its legal status varies, so reporting bias is of concern. However, since the reported prevalence in our data is comparable to nation-specific survey results and not differential between cases and controls, it is unlikely to fully explain the lack of significant association. Our results cannot preclude the possibility that cannabis may exhibit an association with lung cancer risk at extremely hi...
I am no doctor just a logical thinker but do these studies incorporate Air pollution? I would think there would more cancer patiants in big cities due to air pollution. In NY/NJ the sky has a grey tint to it. I would think breathing that air could play a roll in lung cancer. Has anyone thought about this, We cut down more and more trees (earths natural air scubber) causing higher pollution levels that we breath in. As humans multiply more vehicales are on the road causing more pollution. Now there has been a rise of cancer. food for your thought.
Are there any studies associated with using different types of smoking devices used to smoke marijuana, such as, using a vapor device instead of a water-pipe? Can it be a little healthier?
I was a heavy marijuana smoker for 35 years smoking each and ever day and have never had cancer. Although I think that anyone who thinks that inhaling any type of smoke into there lungs without harming themselves is kidding themselves. With all the chemicals floating around in our air, Breathing causes cancer.