CRAWLEY, Australia — A startling new paper highlights a disturbing connection between using cannabis and rising rates of various cancers and congenital abnormalities, as well as DNA damage.
The research paints a sobering picture of the hidden health consequences of widespread cannabis consumption as more and more countries legalize its use recreationally.
Researchers from the University of Western Australia found that cannabis exposure was associated with significant increases in cancers, particularly breast, pancreatic, liver, thyroid, and testicular. Testicular cancer risk rose 2.6 times among cannabis users.
The perspective, published in the journal Addiction Biology also discovered that cancers in users tend to develop much earlier and are more aggressive.
Beyond cancer, the scientists uncovered troubling links to birth defects. Epidemiological data across Europe and the United States revealed elevated rates of severe developmental abnormalities, including missing limbs, heart problems, and chromosomal disorders.
“The study’s findings fundamentally challenge the prevailing narrative around the relative safety of cannabis use. The data points to cannabis as a potent genotoxin, capable of causing widespread genetic damage and disrupting normal cellular processes. This has dire implications … “
“The link we’ve described between cannabis use and genotoxicity has far-reaching consequences. This new research shows how genetic damage from cannabis use can be passed down the generations,” notes co-author Dr. Stuart Reece in a media release.
Reece believes this “should reframe the discussion surrounding cannabis legalization.”
The researchers attribute these health impacts to the cannabis plant’s chemical composition, including compounds like THC and CBD, which have been shown to cause genetic damage and disrupt normal cellular processes.
Importantly, they point out that cannabis potency has skyrocketed in recent decades, with THC levels now commonly reaching 25-30% – a potential driver behind the worsening outcomes.
At the heart of this research is a process called “micronuclear fragmentation” …
