More Evidence That Marijuana Prevents Cancer
Among the more interesting pieces of news that came out while I was on vacation the first half of August was a new study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, which found that marijuana smokers have a lower risk of head and neck cancers than people who don’t smoke marijuana. Alas, this important research has been largely ignored by the news media.
While this type of study cannot conclusively prove cause and effect, the combination of this new study and existing research — which for decades has shown that cannabinoids are fairly potent anticancer drugs — raises a significant possibility that marijuana use is in fact protective against certain types of cancer.
A team of researchers from several major universities conducted what is known as a “case-control” study, comparing patients who had squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, larynx, and pharynx with control patients matched for age, gender, and residence location who did not have cancer. By looking at matched groups with and without cancer, researchers hope to find patterns indicating risk or protective factors. In this case they focused on marijuana use, but also took into account known risk factors for this type of cancer, including tobacco and alcohol use.
After adjusting for those confounding factors, current marijuana users had a 48% reduced risk of head and neck cancer, and the reduction was statistically significant. Former users also had a lower risk, though it fell short of being significant. The investigators crunched the numbers several different ways — for example, by amount of marijuana used or the frequency of use — and the findings stayed the same nearly across the board, with moderate users showing the strongest and most consistent reduction in cancer risk.
The scientists write, “We found that moderate marijuana use was significantly associated with reduced risk HNSCC [head and neck squamous cell carcinoma]. The association was consistent across different measures of marijuana use (marijuana use status, duration, and frequency of use).”
Strikingly, among drinkers and cigarette smokers, those who also used marijuana reduced their cancer risk compared to those who only drank and smoked cigarettes. So marijuana may actually have been countering the known bad effects of booze and cigarettes.
This is important, and by any reasonable standard, it’s news. But this afternoon, a Google News search for coverage of this study produced a grand total of nine hits. None of these — none — was from a major newspaper, wire service, or TV network.
Tagged with: cancer and marijuana and Media and science by the author
34 comments
nice =) but when will the media nd newspaper start to look into this, nd also norml posted 2 more new studys.
From what I could tell from your link to the article summary, the
risk reduction was 38%, not 48%. Was that number from the
full article?
Dr. Cracker was the most recent researcher that I know of that has battled the federal government for permission to research cannabis.
He was turned down late last year after quite a few appeals.
What we are experiencing is the feds openly denying scientific progress and the media refusing to cover cannabis in a non discriminatory manner with the pharmys instigating the opposition via the politicians and we have our backs against the wall.
We have to defeat this prejudice.
I’ve done my part by posting to my local news site.
This is big news, but the biases of the so-called “objective” media are showing in their (lack or) reaction and followup on such an important story.
Those who have cancer or want to prevent from having cancer listens, and those who like to get high listens as well. Prohibitionism is shrinking, but there are still a few ugly people out there who wants to control your life and hoping for a big come back. They still control the media, the police force, a declining few politicians, and your boss.
It is the Big Pharma Drug Cartel that cotrols the media
ABC News also has an article discussing the effects cannabis has on prostate cancer. Wow, might I say I think we cannot let this information out to the public because insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies will be MAD! I guess, if we let them make a FAKE cannabis pill that everyone can take they will be happy…?
Steve @#6 You’re right…..I forgot about those stupid million dollar commercials the media gets. “Ask your doctor about …….”
This is ridicules! All this evidence that marijuana is nontoxic and can actually prevent certain types of cancer but, politicians still sit back and live in this state of ignorance and ignore the facts!
It wouldn’t be a problem if Obama can get over his personal fears of legalizing marijuana. We all heard his nervous laugh about it.
I’ve wonder who is really stopping him from doing it?
How many have heard the’rumors ‘ over the many years that our government has the cure to cancer? Well this(cannabis) may or may not “cure” cancer, but it has be now show to fight cancer. Could it be our government has known this for a very long time? How bout the Pharma companies? You and I know one thing…Politicains do whats best for them not us….same for big companies like the pharmas.
You would think that if something was shown to be a cancer fighting agent everyone would be talking about it. Why isnt everyone talking about it? Are people really that much of being sheep or are people scared to speak out against the government? Peole are starting to speak out but being marginalized because of it. Its wrong…. SPEAK UP PEOPLE>>>LOUDER!!
The media isnt reporting anymore,just doing what is popular or is told to do. Our country has a serious problem…Government and big corporations, both of which needs to be shown their place…and in a hurry.
Isn’t there enough research to prove that prohibition is the only harmful effect of using marijuana?
It is mind boggling that marijuana is still illegal. It’s just not logical.
48%, or even if its 38%, less cancer is miraculous! I bet if the anti-carcinogenic compounds in MJ were isolated, concentrated, and delivered properly, the percentage would be much higher (pun intended). Its outrageous that our government stifles research that could save so many lives. Plus, i believe it is morally wrong for them to prosecute recreational cannabis users or sieze their property. It makes a mockery of the notion of liberty or personal freedom. This is a major civil rights issue. We are the last, largest oppressed minority in America.
Stevo #13
I think the American people are the largest group that is oppressed in this country,not just cannabis consumers.
Dont believe it? Just look at the game our leaders play with the people in order to keep them from seeing the truth. They are on top and have their boots on OUR necks, all the while playing these ‘political party ‘ games to keep us fighting each other.. ‘the fox is raiding the hen house’ while the ‘dogs’ fight over the bones!
I’ve read numerous reports from medical studies that outline the reduced risk of certain types of cancer and diseases from the use of cannabis. You name it, lung cancer, brain cancer, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia. The fact is that according to the media the benefits of cannabis are far less newsworthy than any negative associations one might find directly or indirectly related to cannabis. I believe the solution is simple, let’s continue to write, email, and call our elected officials; spread the word to friends, family, and co-workers about the injustice the American people suffer due to prohibition; donate to MPP whenever possible, JURY NULLIFICATION; get the word out on all of the legislation on the table for cannabis legalization, or decriminalization; and talk about the personal freedoms that are trampled on, and also the benefits to the economy, state and local taxes, green jobs etc. I for one believe we are winning, thanks in part to Bruce and team and other unnamed organizations. Thanks to you all for your part, we will overcome.
Wow, are we ever going to look dumb. 100 years from now, the history books are going to look back at the prohibition era and say:
“See how backwards we used to be? For 75 years, we outlawed a plant because we were afraid of progress. All that time, we could have been curing diseases, preserving our forests, and providing sustained work for our farmers and families.”
“Instead, we let criminals and murders grow insanely wealthy while we spent over $70 BILLION dollars a year fighting cannabis and putting our families in prison.”
To answer the various questions about the stats, there are of course lots of figures in the full article not contained in the summary to which I linked. Alas, the abstract is all you can get without paying for it.
Now colon cancer is reduced by cannabis use. There is so, so, many uses for cannabis and the public is finally catching on. Unfortunately big Rx and companies like DuPont are paying millions of dollers to our elected officials to keep it illeagle. Wake up America, VOTE OUT all anti cannabis polititions next vote. I will only vote for who will stand on a pro cannabis platform.
A difficult choice colonoscopy or a joint?
[...] WAR ON DRUGS: More Scientific Research Supporting That Marijuana Prevents Cancer Especially interesting was that it seemed to lower the risk even for people who also smoke and drak. (tags: politics drugs WarOnDrugs marijuana medical cancer cancerPrevention prevention science research studies cannibinoids CancerPreventionResearch mouth larynx pharynx SquamousCellCarcinoma carcinoma MPP news articles) [...]
Well, the big story these days is that major media outlets are not printing these big stories. Between MPP and NORML, this is what I’ve been seeing lately. My arms are up in the air. What now?
With all the mis-information propaganda that the government puts out there without one bit of scientific evidence or research… we should start making the same sort of ridiculous claims about marijuana, like how it can prevent your hair from falling out in *some* ( wink ) cases of people and increases the *possibility* of attractiveness among fellow smokers.
…You know just to make a point how absurd they’re being with some of their unsubstantiated accusations without doing ANY REAL studies to support it. To be fair and UNBIASED, they need to let independent unrestricted research ( not just the “ill” effects ) be done for ANY of it to be taken seriously with any credibility.
Hello everyone!
This is the truth we have all be waiting for.
Way to go (Mr.) Bruce Mirken and groovey-planet people. Amen.
Wendy from Good ‘ole Utah
I just though of this when I was taking a hit of my bong and was checking out mpp website. How about everyone that’s leaves a comment here and in normls makes a video about the problem of prohibition with marijuana or anyhing else related to marijuana and post it on you tube. After all everyone knows that the Internet is the only way to get ur voice heard l, when the media won’t do it.
Just imagen eveyone posting their thoughs, ideas, and support for marijuana legalization, the media will pick it up and ppl especially will pick it up and next thing u know everone and the media will be talking about it. I know that their is already ppl out there posting thier thoughs on utube but we need more ppl to step up. An stop ppl like benton from running our country……..
After all that, I’m gonna continue to smoke my bong.
Later my people.
#25;
Take a big hit for me will ya. Not smoking .Havent for sometime. Refuse to let them get their claws into me. Makes it easier for me to put my claws into them
So.. Take a huge Rip for me .
#24 Has a good idea.
How about a MPP youtube channel for the people.
It’s all lost hope. MPP has done some good deeds, but no one fights for it anymore. It’s all blah blah it’s more safer than harmful studies, yet no one promotes it. Not even MPP, in my opinion. Everyone talks about it, but thats it. The one that are able and happy to enjoy cannabis safely don’t care about others. The only thing one can do is move to a state and try for a medical card. Lost hope.
That is what will happen to a lot of people. It is easier to move than to go to jail. But the states that do not allow med. mj. will put us on probation and make us pay fines to keep us from moving to another state. But I will never stop using mj. for my constant pain because I am an ex intro. drug user but that is ok because they cost a fortune and was from big pharma.
R.O.E
Everytime I hit my bong, will be a hit for u R.O.E (no homo) and ebrybody else too… ..I know a lot of ppl refuse to smoke because it’s
ilegal but I won’t let big brother tell me what to put in my body. Yeah, I’ll follow the laws that makes sense and provides peace and fairness to every human being in America. But if u are talking about something that has been study for decades and that has been show countless times that is non- toxic, and it helps prevents cancer from happenin. You still rejected it from us, I will still use it. I don’t give a fuck what the big G says, if it fucking helps me, then I will fucking be using it.
Later my PPL
I’ve been reading through what you all are saying, and I have noticed something. It seems to me that we all know that our voice is not registering in Washington and that is really the problem we are having with getting marijuana legalized. We don’t have a face we can stand behind and who can speak for us.
If we really want to get this plant legal, we need to whip out the old school. We need to organize state wide conventions and write up a list of complaints to submit to our state representatives and senators about what exactly our right to liberty truly means. We also need to elect someone who can speak for one of the largest most diverse group of individuals in the United States. I’m not saying that is all we need to do, but i feel that this would certainly get the ball rolling in a positive direction. What do you think?
That is outstanding to hear. Ive had my thoughts about marijuana heeling cancers of some sort. Its very positive and looking to the future, because one day weed will be used for everything. Think marijuana makes clothes, (hemp) medicine, and if also grown long enough it can be cut down and used as lumber paper, and so on and so forth. Just felt like speeking up a little.
[...] we’ve noted before, research shows that cannabinoids (marijuana’s unique, active components) interfere with tumor [...]
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