Daily Marijuana Use Raises Head and Neck Cancer Risk by Up to 5 Times, New Study Finds

Daily Marijuana Use Raises Head and Neck Cancer Risk by Up to 5 Times, New Study Finds

Daily marijuana use over several years significantly heightens the risk of developing head and neck cancers, increasing it by up to five times, according to recent research.

This research utilized insurance data to examine the correlation between cannabis use disorder and head and neck cancers.

Dr. Niels Kokot, a clinical otolaryngology-head and neck surgery professor at the Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, noted that individuals with cannabis use disorder are more prone to head and neck cancers compared to non-users.

The research revealed that individuals with cannabis use disorder typically smoke about one joint per day for several years or more.

However, the study found no link between occasional recreational marijuana use and head and neck cancer.

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Published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, the study analyzed a dataset of 4 million electronic health records and identified over 116,000 cases of cannabis use disorder among individuals with head and neck cancers.

It also indicated that those with cannabis use disorder are approximately 2.5 times more likely to develop oral cancer, nearly 5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer (affecting the soft palate, tonsils, and back of the throat), and over 8 times more likely to develop laryngeal cancer.

The study identified smoking as a major factor linking marijuana use to head and neck cancers.

Tobacco smoking doubles the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, which constitutes 90% of all head and neck cancers. Increased tobacco use further amplifies this risk, and the addition of alcohol compounds the danger.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cannabis use disorder is diagnosed when a person exhibits two or more symptoms, including craving marijuana, developing tolerance, using more than intended, continuing use despite life problems, using in high-risk situations, experiencing withdrawal, and being unable to quit.

Daily Marijuana Use Raises Head and Neck Cancer Risk by Up to 5 Times, New Study Finds