Heavy Pot Smoking Doesn't Increase Lung Cancer Risk

[dsyfer]

http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/fe...cout532865.html

 

More Google news stories on the study

 

WEDNESDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. study concludes there is no link between smoking marijuana and increased risk of lung cancer -- even among heavy, long-term users.

 

The California researchers also found that smoking marijuana does not appear to increase the risk of head and neck cancers, such as cancer of the tongue, mouth, throat or esophagus.

 

The study included 611 people in the Los Angeles area who developed lung cancer, 601 people with cancer of the head or neck regions, and 1,040 cancer-free people matched on age, gender and neighborhood.

 

All the study participants were under age 60. They were asked about their lifetime use of marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, other drug use, diet, occupation, family history of cancer, and socioeconomic status. The heaviest marijuana users in the study had smoked more than 22,000 marijuana cigarettes, while moderately heavy users had smoked between 11,000 to 22,000 joints.

 

People who smoked more marijuana did not have any increased risk of cancer compared to those who smoked less marijuana or none at all, the study found.

 

The study was expected to be presented Tuesday at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, in San Diego.

 

The researchers said they were surprised by the findings.

 

"We expected that we would find that a history of heavy marijuana use -- more than 500-1,000 uses -- would increase the risk of cancer from several years to decades after exposure to marijuana," senior researcher Dr. Donald Tashkin, a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, said in a prepared statement.

 

Tashkin said one possible explanation is that THC, a chemical in marijuana smoke, may encourage aging cells to die earlier than normal, reducing the likelihood that they'll transform into cancer cells.

[WantDaChronic]

Tashkin said one possible explanation is that THC, a chemical in marijuana smoke, may encourage aging cells to die earlier than normal, reducing the likelihood that they'll transform into cancer cells.

 

well since they cant use the cancer scare tactic no more, they are saying the pot will make us age quicker whats to bet that gets people smoking it sooner so they can go out clubbing at 16

[dsyfer]

well since they cant use the cancer scare tactic no more, they are saying the pot will make us age quicker whats to bet that gets people smoking it sooner so they can go out clubbing at 16

It's actually a plus to kill off dying cells, meaning THC could be working like a cancer supressant, not just lung cancer,

 

but probably none of the mainstream Australian media will pick up the story anyway, can't have cannabis

 

shown in a good light can we.

[WantDaChronic]

It's actually a plus to kill off dying cells, meaning THC could be working like a cancer supressant, not just lung cancer,

 

but probably none of the mainstream Australian media will pick up the story anyway, can't have cannabis

 

shown in a good light can we.

 

yeah i know, but like you said we cant have cannabis in a good light so imo thats how the media will handle it if they decide to run it

[dsyfer]

yeah i know, but like you said we cant have cannabis in a good light so imo thats how the media will handle it if they decide to run it

ah,

 

might be worth emailing some editors asking if they will be running it.

[Untitled]

I read an article on Erowid a year or 2 ago that said the same kinda thing.

[Chev]

Hehehe my old lady is always sprouting at me info from 'stories' she hears on the mainstream tv. And she believes it Most of the 'info' comes from american research, I think that says it all

[raverspec]

What a top article. Good news for all of us!!

 

As long as we stop spinning our mull with baccy we should be sweet.

[abovethelaw]

What a top article. Good news for all of us!!

 

As long as we stop spinning our mull with baccy we should be sweet.

 

Nobody should be mulling their weed in my opinion. Just not worth it!

[WantDaChronic]

maybe the tobacco companies should sponser a study to determine if marijuana will constantly keep cancer at bay because if they actually found out that if you consumed enough marijuana that it totally prevented cancers from growing, it would eventually get legalised and they would be fighting on our side

 

then again, the government + health groups could just see it as a way to get more people smoking ciggies and pot, but if its scientifically proven, i dont think they'd have much choice in the matter