After analyzing millions of medical records, a study found that long-term marijuana use increases the incidence of head and neck cancer.
The study did not distinguish between methods of cannabis consumption, suggesting that the results were based on smoking cannabis.
CDC’s Diagnostic Criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) diagnoses a person with a cannabis use disorder if they use cannabis despite experiencing problems in their lives, or if they have strong cravings for cannabis.
The National Cancer Institute also reports that a person diagnosed with throat or mouth cancer has a 69% chance of surviving five years or more,
but that drops to 14% if the cancer metastasizes.
Leading causes of head and neck cancer
Experts say that tobacco and alcohol are the leading causes of head and neck cancers,
while an unbalanced diet and a weakened immune system also increase the risk. Additionally,
people with Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus are more likely to develop cancer.