Key Points:
- A new U.S. study links cannabis and tobacco use to high oral cancer risk.
- Risk shoots up by over 600% in users hooked on both weed and cigarettes.
- Experts urge weed users to get mouth checks and reduce smoke intake.
Tobacco smokers who are also hooked on cannabis may face a deadly health risk.
A new study shows they are 624% more likely to get oral cancer within just five years.
Smoking weed and tobacco raises cancer threat
The study was done by UC San Diego School of Medicine.
It says weed use may be as risky — or worse — than just smoking cigarettes.
People with cannabis use disorder were 3.25 times more likely to get oral cancer.
This was compared to people who do not use cannabis at all.
What the study looked at
The team studied over 45,000 oral cancer patients.
Out of those, 949 had cannabis use disorder.
They checked for age, gender, BMI, and smoking history.
The results were clear and scary.
Tobacco users who also smoke weed are 6 times more likely to get cancer.
This was compared to smokers who do not touch marijuana.
Experts explain the link
“Cannabis smoke has many of the same bad stuff as tobacco smoke,” said Prof. Raphael Cuomo.
“It can hurt the skin inside the mouth,” he added.
Oral cancer can hit the lips, tongue, gums, or even cheeks.
It may also grow in the mouth lining or throat.
Risk is also higher with booze or HPV infection.
New cases and death toll
The American Cancer Society says about 60,000 new oral cancer cases will be found in 2025.
Roughly 12,800 of those may die from it.
Not all weed products are the same
Experts say the real risk comes from smoke.
Weed edibles and THC drinks do not show this threat.
So, the problem is with how weed is taken — not just the drug itself.
Prof. Cuomo advised users to visit the dentist often.
He said more research will be needed as weed use grows.
