Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection

Prophet Saddam · 05-01-2008, 07:19 PM

This is another important step in getting the truth about marijuana out.

Spread the word!

Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection - washingtonpost.com

Quote:

The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

OldMan&TheWeed · 05-01-2008, 07:50 PM

Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 26, 2006; Page A03

The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

The new findings "were against our expectations," said Donald Tashkin of the University of California at Los Angeles, a pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years.

"We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use," he said. "What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect."

Federal health and drug enforcement officials have widely used Tashkin's previous work on marijuana to make the case that the drug is dangerous. Tashkin said that while he still believes marijuana is potentially harmful, its cancer-causing effects appear to be of less concern than previously thought.

Earlier work established that marijuana does contain cancer-causing chemicals as potentially harmful as those in tobacco, he said. However, marijuana also contains the chemical THC, which he said may kill aging cells and keep them from becoming cancerous.

Tashkin's study, funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse, involved 1,200 people in Los Angeles who had lung, neck or head cancer and an additional 1,040 people without cancer matched by age, sex and neighborhood.

They were all asked about their lifetime use of marijuana, tobacco and alcohol. The heaviest marijuana smokers had lighted up more than 22,000 times, while moderately heavy usage was defined as smoking 11,000 to 22,000 marijuana cigarettes. Tashkin found that even the very heavy marijuana smokers showed no increased incidence of the three cancers studied.

"This is the largest case-control study ever done, and everyone had to fill out a very extensive questionnaire about marijuana use," he said. "Bias can creep into any research, but we controlled for as many confounding factors as we could, and so I believe these results have real meaning."

Tashkin's group at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA had hypothesized that marijuana would raise the risk of cancer on the basis of earlier small human studies, lab studies of animals, and the fact that marijuana users inhale more deeply and generally hold smoke in their lungs longer than tobacco smokers -- exposing them to the dangerous chemicals for a longer time. In addition, Tashkin said, previous studies found that marijuana tar has 50 percent higher concentrations of chemicals linked to cancer than tobacco cigarette tar.

While no association between marijuana smoking and cancer was found, the study findings, presented to the American Thoracic Society International Conference this week, did find a 20-fold increase in lung cancer among people who smoked two or more packs of cigarettes a day.

The study was limited to people younger than 60 because those older than that were generally not exposed to marijuana in their youth, when it is most often tried.

OldMan&TheWeed · 05-01-2008, 07:55 PM

And this from 11 years ago:

Kaiser Permanente research finds no link between marijuana use and death

Wednesday, 14 May 1997.
OAKLAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 1997--

In an exhaustive study of ten years of mortality data for over 65,000 men and women, Kaiser Permanente research scientists found no statistically significant association between marijuana smoking and death.

The study, entitled "Marijuana Use and Mortality," is being published in the April 1997 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The April issue, however, was printed late and is being released this week.

The lead scientist in the research was Stephen Sidney, MD, senior epidemiologist with the Division of Research in Kaiser Permanente's Northern California Region.

"About one-third of the American population over the age of 12 is estimated to have used marijuana, making it the most popular illegal drug in this country, but we still know little about its long-term health effects," Dr. Sidney said. "This report is the first of several to come from a major epidemiological investigation into the health consequences of Cannabis."

The study population comprised 65,171 patients between the ages of 15 and 49 who had multiphasic health check-ups at the Oakland and San Francisco Kaiser Permanente facilities between 1979 and 1985. Based on answers about drug use given in a confidential self-administered research questionnaire, the patients were divided into groups ranging from those who had never tried marijuana to those who used it currently and regularly. Mortality statistics for all patients were followed until 1991 and analyzed for any association between marijuana and death. The study's statistical methodology controlled for the use of tobacco and alcohol so that deaths from marijuana smoking could be clearly identified.

In men, the study found, marijuana use was associated only with deaths from AIDS. There was no significant increase in deaths from other causes.

"This doesn't mean that marijuana causes AIDS," Dr. Sidney pointed out. "Prior research has shown that during the 1980s homosexual and bisexual men had a higher rate of marijuana use than heterosexual men. We think this is the reason for the link between marijuana use and AIDS. It's the sexual activity, not smoking marijuana, that causes the disease."

The study also found that, among women, the risk of accidental death rose to an almost statistically significant level.

"We have submitted to medical journals two more reports on marijuana use and health, one focusing on cancer and the other on emergency room and medical office visits for injury," Dr. Sidney said. "We expect to prepare later this year additional reports on respiratory illness and hospitalization for injuries."

The research study into marijuana and mortality was supported principally by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additional funding came from the National Cancer Institute and The Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation.

OldMan&TheWeed · 05-01-2008, 08:42 PM

And now a word from the Federal Government

According to NIDA:

Lung damage. Regular marijuana users often develop breathing problems including chronic coughing and wheezing. Marijuana contains the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco. The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed by those who smoke marijuana, regardless of THC content, are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers.

It's interesting how you can mislead without lying.

Mr.Tree · 05-01-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldMan&TheWeed

And now a word from the Federal Government

According to NIDA:

Lung damage. Regular marijuana users often develop breathing problems including chronic coughing and wheezing. Marijuana contains the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco. The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed by those who smoke marijuana, regardless of THC content, are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers.

It's interesting how you can mislead without lying.

Its also interesting how the government is so good at propaganda.

NorcalCarl · 05-02-2008, 09:33 AM

Interesting. I always assumed cancer and Marijuana are related because of the smoke. I don't whole heartedly trust this study. Now if it was eating the MJ that would be a different matter.

Prophet Saddam · 05-02-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorcalCarl

Interesting. I always assumed cancer and Marijuana are related because of the smoke. I don't whole heartedly trust this study. Now if it was eating the MJ that would be a different matter.

This isn't the first study to come up with this finding - check out OldMan&TheWeed's posts above...

Charley Phogg · 05-02-2008, 01:12 PM

"Earlier work established that marijuana does contain cancer-causing chemicals as potentially harmful as those in tobacco, he said. However, marijuana also contains the chemical THC, which he said may kill aging cells and keep them from becoming cancerous"

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that aspect of THC, that it can kill aging cells. I suppose it's not proven, but that would be such a fucking smack in the face to the Man if it was.

OldMan&TheWeed · 05-02-2008, 10:55 PM

There is a Cancer-Marijuana Connection!

Marijuana may cure cancer!

Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew in '74

In 1974 researchers learned that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, shrank or destroyed brain tumors in test mice. But the DEA quickly shut down the study and destroyed its results, which were never replicated -- until now.

The term medical marijuana took on dramatic new meaning in February, 2000 when researchers in Madrid announced they had destroyed incurable brain tumors in rats by injecting them with THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.

The Madrid study marks only the second time that THC has been administered to tumor-bearing animals; the first was a Virginia investigation 26 years ago. In both studies, the THC shrank or destroyed tumors in a majority of the test subjects.

Most Americans don't know anything about the Madrid discovery. Virtually no major U.S. newspapers carried the story, which ran only once on the AP and UPI news wires, on Feb. 29, 2000. . .

Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew in '74 | AlterNet

Ziggy Fry · 05-03-2008, 01:14 PM

"But the DEA quickly shut down the study and destroyed its results"

Sick.

Sin.Ziggy.

Praise Jah · 05-03-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Phogg

" which he said may kill aging cells and keep them from becoming cancerous"

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that aspect of THC, that it can kill aging cells. I suppose it's not proven, but that would be such a fucking smack in the face to the Man if it was.

may kill aging cells preventing them from becoming cancerous or may just kill cells period. don't go jumping for joy just yet. you have to see how that can be a not so good thing as well? I wonder if the "may prevent cells from becoming cancerous" part has any merit based on study or if it was just a reach by some pot smoking scientist just trying to make the fact that weed will kill your cells sound like a good thing

OldMan&TheWeed · 05-03-2008, 05:03 PM

On Tuesday January 29, 2008 Reuters News Wire published a story under the headline: "Cannabis Bigger Cancer Risk Than Cigarettes." Mainstream media outlets across the globe immediately followed suit. "Smoking One Joint is Equivalent to 20 Cigarettes, Study Says," Fox News declared, while Australia's ABC broadcast network pronounced, "Experts Warn of Cannabis Cancer 'Epidemic.'"

For those who actually bothered to read the study's full text, which appeared in the European Respiratory Journal days after the global feeding frenzy had ended, they would have learned the following:

Among the 79 lung cancer subjects (as opposed to the 65,000 in the Kaiser study) who participated in the trial, 70 of them smoked tobacco. These individuals, not surprisingly, experienced a seven-times greater risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer compared to tobacco-free controls.

As for the subjects in the study who reported having used cannabis, they, on average, experienced no statistically significant increased cancer risk compared to non-using controls.

So how'd the press get the story so wrong?

NorcalCarl · 05-03-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldMan&TheWeed

There is a Cancer-Marijuana Connection!

Marijuana may cure cancer!

Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew in '74

In 1974 researchers learned that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, shrank or destroyed brain tumors in test mice. But the DEA quickly shut down the study and destroyed its results, which were never replicated -- until now.

The term medical marijuana took on dramatic new meaning in February, 2000 when researchers in Madrid announced they had destroyed incurable brain tumors in rats by injecting them with THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.

The Madrid study marks only the second time that THC has been administered to tumor-bearing animals; the first was a Virginia investigation 26 years ago. In both studies, the THC shrank or destroyed tumors in a majority of the test subjects.

Most Americans don't know anything about the Madrid discovery. Virtually no major U.S. newspapers carried the story, which ran only once on the AP and UPI news wires, on Feb. 29, 2000. . .

Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew in '74 | AlterNet

Wow thats amazing! I don't feel so bad smoking weed now.

kamikazi89 · 05-03-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorcalCarl

Interesting. I always assumed cancer and Marijuana are related because of the smoke. I don't whole heartedly trust this study. Now if it was eating the MJ that would be a different matter.

you're confusing respiratory issues with cancer is completely a different

**Canuck Wisdom** · 05-03-2008, 07:21 PM

weed = good, possibly even beneficial. Smoke of any type = bad. Smoking weed may be way less bad, neutral at least, but any benefits from it must be taken in context of taking in carcinogens and tar from smoke. Vaporizing, if these benefits are true, may be a cleaning for the lungs.

^^ in my understanding anyways

OldMan&TheWeed · 05-03-2008, 10:50 PM

Great illustration kamikazi89!

And Canuck Wisdom is right. Marijuana's low cancer risks notwithstanding, smoking is NOT the best way to enjoy your herb. Although I have a small collection of smoking apparatuses, when I partake, I most often use our Herbalaire vaporizer or I eat it in the form of a brownie or majoon.

I really must post my recipe for majoon here. Preparing cannabis in majoon was the main way cannabis was enjoyed for hundreds (perhaps a couple thousand) of years before smoking was introduced from the New World.

05-01-2008, 07:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
OldMan&TheWeed The Old Man and the Weed Join Date: May 2006 Location: The West Posts: 1,276 Thanks: 7 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection By Marc Kaufman Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, May 26, 2006; Page A03 The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer. The new findings "were against our expectations," said Donald Tashkin of the University of California at Los Angeles, a pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years. "We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use," he said. "What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect." Federal health and drug enforcement officials have widely used Tashkin's previous work on marijuana to make the case that the drug is dangerous. Tashkin said that while he still believes marijuana is potentially harmful, its cancer-causing effects appear to be of less concern than previously thought. Earlier work established that marijuana does contain cancer-causing chemicals as potentially harmful as those in tobacco, he said. However, marijuana also contains the chemical THC, which he said may kill aging cells and keep them from becoming cancerous. Tashkin's study, funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse, involved 1,200 people in Los Angeles who had lung, neck or head cancer and an additional 1,040 people without cancer matched by age, sex and neighborhood. They were all asked about their lifetime use of marijuana, tobacco and alcohol. The heaviest marijuana smokers had lighted up more than 22,000 times, while moderately heavy usage was defined as smoking 11,000 to 22,000 marijuana cigarettes. Tashkin found that even the very heavy marijuana smokers showed no increased incidence of the three cancers studied. "This is the largest case-control study ever done, and everyone had to fill out a very extensive questionnaire about marijuana use," he said. "Bias can creep into any research, but we controlled for as many confounding factors as we could, and so I believe these results have real meaning." Tashkin's group at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA had hypothesized that marijuana would raise the risk of cancer on the basis of earlier small human studies, lab studies of animals, and the fact that marijuana users inhale more deeply and generally hold smoke in their lungs longer than tobacco smokers -- exposing them to the dangerous chemicals for a longer time. In addition, Tashkin said, previous studies found that marijuana tar has 50 percent higher concentrations of chemicals linked to cancer than tobacco cigarette tar. While no association between marijuana smoking and cancer was found, the study findings, presented to the American Thoracic Society International Conference this week, did find a 20-fold increase in lung cancer among people who smoked two or more packs of cigarettes a day. The study was limited to people younger than 60 because those older than that were generally not exposed to marijuana in their youth, when it is most often tried. __________________ The above story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

05-01-2008, 07:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
OldMan&TheWeed The Old Man and the Weed Join Date: May 2006 Location: The West Posts: 1,276 Thanks: 7 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	And this from 11 years ago: Kaiser Permanente research finds no link between marijuana use and death Wednesday, 14 May 1997. OAKLAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 1997-- In an exhaustive study of ten years of mortality data for over 65,000 men and women, Kaiser Permanente research scientists found no statistically significant association between marijuana smoking and death. The study, entitled "Marijuana Use and Mortality," is being published in the April 1997 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The April issue, however, was printed late and is being released this week. The lead scientist in the research was Stephen Sidney, MD, senior epidemiologist with the Division of Research in Kaiser Permanente's Northern California Region. "About one-third of the American population over the age of 12 is estimated to have used marijuana, making it the most popular illegal drug in this country, but we still know little about its long-term health effects," Dr. Sidney said. "This report is the first of several to come from a major epidemiological investigation into the health consequences of Cannabis." The study population comprised 65,171 patients between the ages of 15 and 49 who had multiphasic health check-ups at the Oakland and San Francisco Kaiser Permanente facilities between 1979 and 1985. Based on answers about drug use given in a confidential self-administered research questionnaire, the patients were divided into groups ranging from those who had never tried marijuana to those who used it currently and regularly. Mortality statistics for all patients were followed until 1991 and analyzed for any association between marijuana and death. The study's statistical methodology controlled for the use of tobacco and alcohol so that deaths from marijuana smoking could be clearly identified. In men, the study found, marijuana use was associated only with deaths from AIDS. There was no significant increase in deaths from other causes. "This doesn't mean that marijuana causes AIDS," Dr. Sidney pointed out. "Prior research has shown that during the 1980s homosexual and bisexual men had a higher rate of marijuana use than heterosexual men. We think this is the reason for the link between marijuana use and AIDS. It's the sexual activity, not smoking marijuana, that causes the disease." The study also found that, among women, the risk of accidental death rose to an almost statistically significant level. "We have submitted to medical journals two more reports on marijuana use and health, one focusing on cancer and the other on emergency room and medical office visits for injury," Dr. Sidney said. "We expect to prepare later this year additional reports on respiratory illness and hospitalization for injuries." The research study into marijuana and mortality was supported principally by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additional funding came from the National Cancer Institute and The Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation. __________________ The above story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

05-01-2008, 08:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
OldMan&TheWeed The Old Man and the Weed Join Date: May 2006 Location: The West Posts: 1,276 Thanks: 7 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	And now a word from the Federal Government According to NIDA: Lung damage. Regular marijuana users often develop breathing problems including chronic coughing and wheezing. Marijuana contains the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco. The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed by those who smoke marijuana, regardless of THC content, are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. It's interesting how you can mislead without lying. __________________ The above story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

05-02-2008, 01:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Charley Phogg A Devious Degenerate Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 386 Thanks: 14 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts	"Earlier work established that marijuana does contain cancer-causing chemicals as potentially harmful as those in tobacco, he said. However, marijuana also contains the chemical THC, which he said may kill aging cells and keep them from becoming cancerous" That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that aspect of THC, that it can kill aging cells. I suppose it's not proven, but that would be such a fucking smack in the face to the Man if it was. __________________ Too drunk to light the bong, to stoned to write this song.

05-02-2008, 10:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
OldMan&TheWeed The Old Man and the Weed Join Date: May 2006 Location: The West Posts: 1,276 Thanks: 7 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	There is a Cancer-Marijuana Connection! Marijuana may cure cancer! Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew in '74 In 1974 researchers learned that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, shrank or destroyed brain tumors in test mice. But the DEA quickly shut down the study and destroyed its results, which were never replicated -- until now. The term medical marijuana took on dramatic new meaning in February, 2000 when researchers in Madrid announced they had destroyed incurable brain tumors in rats by injecting them with THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. The Madrid study marks only the second time that THC has been administered to tumor-bearing animals; the first was a Virginia investigation 26 years ago. In both studies, the THC shrank or destroyed tumors in a majority of the test subjects. Most Americans don't know anything about the Madrid discovery. Virtually no major U.S. newspapers carried the story, which ran only once on the AP and UPI news wires, on Feb. 29, 2000. . . Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew in '74 \| AlterNet __________________ The above story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Last edited by OldMan&TheWeed; 05-03-2008 at 05:33 PM.

05-02-2008, 09:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
NorcalCarl YaHookan Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 182 Thanks: 17 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts	Interesting. I always assumed cancer and Marijuana are related because of the smoke. I don't whole heartedly trust this study. Now if it was eating the MJ that would be a different matter.

05-03-2008, 01:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ziggy Fry This is not a pipe. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 211 Thanks: 35 Thanked 22 Times in 19 Posts	"But the DEA quickly shut down the study and destroyed its results" Sick. Sin.Ziggy. Last edited by Ziggy Fry; 05-03-2008 at 01:36 PM.

05-03-2008, 05:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
OldMan&TheWeed The Old Man and the Weed Join Date: May 2006 Location: The West Posts: 1,276 Thanks: 7 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	More Disinformation On Tuesday January 29, 2008 Reuters News Wire published a story under the headline: "Cannabis Bigger Cancer Risk Than Cigarettes." Mainstream media outlets across the globe immediately followed suit. "Smoking One Joint is Equivalent to 20 Cigarettes, Study Says," Fox News declared, while Australia's ABC broadcast network pronounced, "Experts Warn of Cannabis Cancer 'Epidemic.'" For those who actually bothered to read the study's full text, which appeared in the European Respiratory Journal days after the global feeding frenzy had ended, they would have learned the following: Among the 79 lung cancer subjects (as opposed to the 65,000 in the Kaiser study) who participated in the trial, 70 of them smoked tobacco. These individuals, not surprisingly, experienced a seven-times greater risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer compared to tobacco-free controls. As for the subjects in the study who reported having used cannabis, they, on average, experienced no statistically significant increased cancer risk compared to non-using controls. So how'd the press get the story so wrong? __________________ The above story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Last edited by OldMan&TheWeed; 05-03-2008 at 05:34 PM.

05-03-2008, 10:50 PM	#16 (permalink)
OldMan&TheWeed The Old Man and the Weed Join Date: May 2006 Location: The West Posts: 1,276 Thanks: 7 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	Great illustration kamikazi89! And Canuck Wisdom is right. Marijuana's low cancer risks notwithstanding, smoking is NOT the best way to enjoy your herb. Although I have a small collection of smoking apparatuses, when I partake, I most often use our Herbalaire vaporizer or I eat it in the form of a brownie or majoon. I really must post my recipe for majoon here. Preparing cannabis in majoon was the main way cannabis was enjoyed for hundreds (perhaps a couple thousand) of years before smoking was introduced from the New World. __________________ The above story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

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