Truth Seeker
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The decision to use marijuana for medical purposes should be accurately informed by scientific findings of benefit versus risk. The effects of marijuana smoking on cancer remain hypothetical but warrant attention. Without advocating or opposing the use of marijuana for any purpose, this study reconsiders the carcinogenicity of marijuana smoke.
THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE
A hypothetical link between marijuana smoking and cancer has been established based on the following observations: (1) marijuana smoke contains carcinogenic hydrocarbons; (2) cannabinoid administration promotes cancer under certain laboratory conditions; (3) lesions similar to those caused by tobacco smoke are found in the bronchial epithelium of marijuana smokers; and (4) marijuana tar produces tumors when painted on the skin of animals. The best evidence to date on the link between marijuana and cancer, however, derives from epidemiologic case-control studies, especially those with a large number of cases and/or randomly selected controls. Such studies tend to suggest, if anything, an inverse association between marijuana use and cancers. To test the hypothesis that marijuana smoking significantly lowers the risk of developing cancer in humans, we analyzed published data from a prospective cohort study on cancer incidence among nonsmokers (NS), marijuana-only smokers (MS), tobacco-only smokers (TS), and marijuana and tobacco smokers (MTS).
Source: Hypothesizing that marijuana smokers are at a significantly lower risk of carcinogenicity relative to tobacco-non-marijuana smokers: evidenced based on statistical reevaluation of current literature. - Free Online Library
THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE
A hypothetical link between marijuana smoking and cancer has been established based on the following observations: (1) marijuana smoke contains carcinogenic hydrocarbons; (2) cannabinoid administration promotes cancer under certain laboratory conditions; (3) lesions similar to those caused by tobacco smoke are found in the bronchial epithelium of marijuana smokers; and (4) marijuana tar produces tumors when painted on the skin of animals. The best evidence to date on the link between marijuana and cancer, however, derives from epidemiologic case-control studies, especially those with a large number of cases and/or randomly selected controls. Such studies tend to suggest, if anything, an inverse association between marijuana use and cancers. To test the hypothesis that marijuana smoking significantly lowers the risk of developing cancer in humans, we analyzed published data from a prospective cohort study on cancer incidence among nonsmokers (NS), marijuana-only smokers (MS), tobacco-only smokers (TS), and marijuana and tobacco smokers (MTS).
Source: Hypothesizing that marijuana smokers are at a significantly lower risk of carcinogenicity relative to tobacco-non-marijuana smokers: evidenced based on statistical reevaluation of current literature. - Free Online Library
