New study discounts link between oral cancer, pot smoking

[icymist]

Wednesday, June 2, 2004

New study discounts link between oral cancer, pot smoking
Previous research found a correlation

By JULIE DAVIDOW
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Smoking marijuana does not increase the risk of developing oral cancer, according to a new study from Seattle researchers that contradicts an earlier study.

The previous study, led by researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles in 1999, found that marijuana users were 2.5 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer, including tumors of the larynx and throat, than non-users. Researchers suggested that baby boomers who began smoking marijuana during the 1960s, when the drug surged in popularity, could experience higher rates of head and neck cancers as they age.

But the latest research finds no indication of an elevated risk, said Stephen Schwartz, an epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the new study's lead author. More than three times the number of participants were included in the latest study, improving the reliability of the findings, Schwartz said.

"If people are thinking about what might be happening to them in the future because of marijuana use, oral cancer is not something you should be particularly worried about," said Schwartz.

More at this

[livetohike]

1. Good - one less thing to worry about!

eom

[SheepyMcSheepster]

2. good news!

:hippie: :smoke: :silly:

[struggle4progress]

3. Marijuana: the safe alternative to tobacco?

:hippie:

[Raster]

5. ...always has been. Plus there's that nice pleasant buzzzzzz...

...cigarettes are a nicotine delivery device with DIRE consequences. Marijuana is, well, just marijuana. :hippie:

[myccrider]

8. It's also edible...

if you worry about the smoke inhalation thingy. :9

[struggle4progress]

13. Goes great in spaghetti! Makes chewy brownies!

Why didn't Martha Stewart ever provide recipes? :hippie:

<edit:wrong smilie>

[SquireJons]

4. whew...

... and i was sooooooooo worried.

[readmylips]

6. One family member developed cancer of the tongue(mouth)....

at 54. Never smoked in her life, only drank socially for the holidays. She always practiced preventive medicine. She lasted a year. Monica Lewiesky's father was her cancer doctor. It was a big shock to all of us.

[truthspeaker]

7. great news! Now, how should I celebrate it?

Hmmmmm

[underpants]

9. Nore to self:smoke dope in LA not in Seattle

In Seattle it can give you oral cancer.

[icymist]

10. What?!

Why Seattle?! Hummm?

[dubyaD40web]

11. WOW, this is GREAT news....

.... ummmm, for all those pot-smokers out there. Not for me, of course.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

:hippie:

[Chovexani]

12. LOL!

C'mon let's go toke one, I swear I won't tell anybody. ;) :smoke:

[Raster]

15. White Witch: It's so nice to be stoned

Album: unknown
Year: 1972

A proclamation was issued today,
By the government of the USA,
Up to ninety-nine years in jail,
For illegal possession or sale,
How can they think they're right when they're wrong,
I guess they've never been stoned.

It's so nice to be stoned, It's so nice to be stoned,
It's so nice to be stoned, It's so nice to be stoned.

Marijuana is the killer weed,
It's gonna be the end of you and me,
So says the TV news report,
Excuse me while I take a snort,
Let's get together now and take a toke,
of that magic smoke,

It's so nice to be stoned, It's so nice to be stoned,
It's so nice to be stoned, It's so nice to be stoned.

Now bombs and tanks and riot gas,
Can't keep you from smokin' grass,
Now listen to me brother and I'll tell you true,
Marijuana is good for you,
Breath deeply,

It's so nice to be stoned, It's so nice to be stoned,
Gonna sing it from the rooftops yeah,
It's so nice to be stoned, So so so niice,
It's so nice to be stoned.

:hippie: :smoke: :headbang:

[daleo]

14. I would like to see it legalized

But then corporations would take over the production and distribution, and lace it down with so much unnatural stuff that it probably would start giving people cancer.

[livinginphotographs]

16. The hope is that you could grow your own...

It's still legal to grow your own tobacco, after all. I think most people that already smoke would probably just grow it at home. I know my, um, friend would.

[daleo]

17. I think that is one of the problems about legalization

Since it is easy to grow your own (it is, after all, often referred to as a weed), the corporations and government would have a hard time turning it into a cash cow. If they ever figure out how to square that circle, there will be ads on the TV telling you to smoke government/corporation pot "for your own good", and avoid the nasty illegal stuff growing in the ditch.