A comprehensive review in JAMA Network reveals that men who smoke at least one cannabis joint daily for 10 years or more face a 36% increased risk of testicular cancer compared to non-smokers.
In France, cannabis remains the most widely used psychoactive substance after alcohol. As the government greenlights medical cannabis trials and debates recreational use, recent research examines its potential links to cancer risks.
Cannabis smoke contains carcinogenic compounds similar to those in tobacco, such as hydrocarbons. Researchers note: “Marijuana use is associated with bronchial inflammatory changes comparable to those seen with tobacco. Additionally, tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive component, may exert adverse immunomodulatory effects linked to cancer.”
Published in JAMA Network, this analysis synthesized 25 studies conducted between 1973 and 2018, focusing on lung, mouth, brain, neck, and testicular cancers.
No associations emerged for lung, mouth, brain, or neck cancers. However, men smoking at least one joint daily for 10 years showed a 36% elevated risk of testicular cancer.
This finding indicates an association, not causation; researchers caution that the mechanism remains unclear, especially given the absence of links to other cancers.
Though testicular cancer accounts for just 1-2% of male cancers, it is the most common in men aged 15-35. In France, around 2,000 cases are diagnosed annually, with rates rising since the 2000s. Advances in surgery and therapies have greatly improved outcomes.
Key warning symptoms include a lump or swelling in a testicle, pain in the abdomen or scrotum, nausea, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, or breathing difficulties.
Separately, recent research also found that regular cannabis smoking doubles stroke risk in young adults.
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