Does marijuana cause lung cancer? Doctors reveal what the research says

The connection between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer risk has been clear for decades — but what about marijuana?

As more U.S. states legalize recreational cannabis, new and developing research has pointed toward an increased risk of cancer.

A recent study by Keck Medicine of USC in Southern California found that patients who have heavily smoked marijuana may face an increased risk of small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

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An earlier Keck study also associated smoking marijuana with up to a five-times higher risk of head and neck cancer compared to those who don’t smoke.

Brooks Udelsman, MD, a thoracic surgeon with USC Surgery, part of Keck Medicine, commented in a recent university publication that it remains unclear exactly how much marijuana use contributes to cancer risk.

Keck Medicine research has linked smoking marijuana with a higher risk of lung cancer. (iStock)

“If someone smokes marijuana occasionally – once a week, once a month or a few times a year – do they still have that same risk?” he questioned. “My suspicion is that there is probably minimal risk.”

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“All we know right now is that people who smoke a lot of marijuana — to the point that they develop a dependency on it or require hospital care or evaluation for it — do appear to have a higher cancer risk.”

Dr. Luis Hererra, a lung cancer and thoracic surgery specialist at Orlando Health, reiterated that there is a “clear correlation” between tobacco cigarette use and lung cancer risk, while there is “less evidence” of a clear link for marijuana use.

Although evidence is limited, emerging research is linking marijuana use with cancer, according to experts. (iStock)

“However, recent studies suggest that heavier or daily smokers of cannabis have an increased risk of lung cancer,” he told Fox News Digital. “It is also known that marijuana smoking has some of the same chemical compounds and byproducts present in cigarettes.”

Smoking both tobacco and marijuana creates a “direct injury” to lung tissue and can cause inflammation, according to Hererra. Over time, this can lead to cellular DNA damage or mutations that can cause cancer.

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“It appears that the risk of lung cancer with other forms of cannabis use is likely not as significant, mainly due to not exposing the lungs to burning products or smoke,” he added.

Smoking both tobacco and marijuana creates a “direct injury” to lung tissue and can cause inflammation, according to a doctor. (iStock)

Further studies are needed to confirm the risk related to light and recreational cannabis smoking, as well as vaping, the doctor noted.

It will be important to determine whether marijuana smoking should be considered in the criteria for lung cancer screening eligibility in the future, Hererra added.

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New research published in the Oxford Academic journal Carcinogenesis found that nicotine-based vapes are likely to cause oral and lung cancer.

“I’d worry about anything you’re breathing into your lungs.”

Researchers at the University of New South Wales analyzed a wide body of global research, finding that “those who vape are at increased risk of cancer compared to those who don’t.”

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“Considering all the findings — from clinical monitoring, animal studies and mechanistic data — e-cigarettes are likely to cause lung cancer and oral cancer,” lead author and UNSW cancer researcher Bernard Stewart commented in a press release.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales analyzed a wide body of global research, finding that “those who vape are at increased risk of cancer compared to those who don’t.” (iStock)

Udelsman challenged the belief that vaping may be safer than smoking, noting that some “very severe inflammatory diseases” are beginning to become apparent.

More time is needed to analyze the impact of vaping both marijuana and tobacco, he added.

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“The data on vaping is very new, so we don’t know yet, but I’d worry about anything you’re breathing into your lungs, because it infiltrates the cells and air sacs in your lungs, which can cause damage and put you at a higher risk for cancer,” Udelsman warned.