Does smoking pot cause lung cancer?

May 23, 2006 -- People who smoke marijuana do not appear to be at increased risk for developing lung cancer lung cancer, new research suggests. While a clear increase in cancer cancer risk was seen among cigarette smokers in the study, no such association was seen for regular cannabis users. read more

Marijuana smoking does cause inflammation and cell damage, and it has been associated with pre-cancerous changes in lung tissue. Marijuana has been shown to cause immune system dysfunction, which could theoretically predispose individuals to cancer. read more

In addition, the health risks of marijuana aren't clear—especially when it comes to lung cancer. “There hasn’t been nearly as much research on marijuana as on tobacco as a cause of cancer because of it being largely illegal,” says Otis W. Brawley, MD, the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. read more