A recent study published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery has found a strong association between heavy cannabis use and an increased risk of developing head and neck cancer. The study, which analyzed two decades of medical records from millions of patients across 64 healthcare organizations in the United States, concluded that individuals who met the criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD) were between 3.5 and 5 times more likely to develop any form of head and neck cancer than those without CUD.
The study, led by head and neck surgeon Niels Kokot, MD, also found that patients with CUD were at a significantly higher risk for specific types of head and neck cancers, such as laryngeal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. However, the study did acknowledge some limitations, such as the lack of specific information about the frequency, dose, or route of cannabis consumption among patients diagnosed with CUD. This lack of detailed information about cannabis use makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the relationship between cannabis consumption and head and neck cancer risk.
While tobacco and alcohol are well-known risk factors for developing head and neck cancers, the association between cannabis use and these cancer types has been inconsistent in prior research. Additional studies are needed to further investigate the impact of cannabis consumption on head and neck cancer risk, as well as to determine whether different methods of cannabis consumption, such as smoking versus ingesting, have varying effects on cancer risk.
In light of the study's findings, experts recommend that individuals who regularly consume cannabis, such as medical cannabis patients, consider alternative delivery methods that minimize or eliminate the intake of combustive smoke. Further research is necessary to better understand the relationship between cannabis use and head and neck cancer risk, and to address the limitations of the current study in order to draw more concrete conclusions.