Damaging side effects of Marijuana use
A new study published by UC San Diego (High Cannabis Use Linked to Increased Mortality in Colon Cancer Patients) found “individuals with colon cancer and a documented history of high cannabis use were more than 20 times more likely to die within five years of diagnosis compared to those without such a history.”
Colon cancer is on the arise, especially among younger people. 53,000 Americans are projected to die from colon cancer in 2025. The overall five-year survival colon cancer rate is about 65%
“This study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that heavy cannabis use may have underrecognized impacts on the immune system, mental health and treatment behaviors,” said lead study author Raphael Cuomo, an associate professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
The study also found:
- Patients with a history of cannabis use disorder (CUD) had a substantially higher five-year mortality rate (55.88 %) compared to patients without CUD (5.05 %).
- Patients diagnosed with CUD prior to cancer diagnosis were 24.4 times more likely to die within five years of diagnosis compared to those without CUD.
If you are a marijuana smoker, it is good to know the negative side effects.
Marijuana use has also been linked to impaired brain function (Cannabis and Brain Function Study Finds Impact on Working Memory) and memory and schizophrenia (Early Cannabis Use Linked to Schizophrenia Symptoms).
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