Research Shows Marijuana Use Can Accelerate HPV-Related Cancer Growth

Specific cannabis compounds have been shown to help cancer cells grow.

While marijuana has been touted by many for its beneficial medical effects, there are some health conditions where cannabis might not be so good for you. New research from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine showed that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the cannabis compound that makes users "high" -- causes accelerated growth of neck and head cancer cells in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV-related neck and head cancers are among the fastest-growing cancer types in America. Squamous cell carcinoma, a type of cancer found in the mucous membranes of the throat, nose, and mouth, is the sixth most common type of cancer in the world, with as much as 30% of all cases being HPV-related. What's more, this percentage is on the rise, and cannabis use is suspected to be the cause.

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How Marijuana Accelerates Growth of HPV-related Head and Neck Cancer Identified

University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers have identified the molecular mechanism activated by the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the ingredient that causes people to feel the euphoria or “high” associated with cannabis — in the bloodstream that accelerates cancer growth in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

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