JAMA Otolaryn Head Neck Cancer

Cannabis use linked to increased risk of head and neck cancer

August 12, 2024

Findings highlight a significant clinical association between cannabis use and incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC), calling for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms and potential dose-response relationships.

• This cohort study analyzed data from 116,076 individuals (mean age, 46.4 years) with cannabis-related disorders and 3,985,286 individuals (mean age, 60.8 years) without.
• Patients with cannabis-related disorders were found to have a 3.49 times higher risk of developing HNC—especially oral, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer—compared with those without such disorders.
• Increased risk was consistent across age groups, affecting both those under and over 60 years of age.

Source:

Gallagher TJ, et al. (2024, August 8). JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Cannabis Use and Head and Neck Cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39115834/