A recent study published in Addiction Biology suggests that cannabis use may have serious long-term health risks, including the potential to cause cancer and harm future generations.
Researchers from The University of Western Australia found that cannabis can damage genetic material in cells, which may increase the likelihood of cancer, accelerated aging, and birth defects.
This cellular damage, called “genotoxicity,” means that cannabis can harm DNA, potentially leading to mutations and serious health issues.
The study explains that cannabis affects cells’ ability to produce energy by interfering with mitochondria, the parts of cells that act as energy sources.
This damage to mitochondrial function can then lead to chromosomal damage—a disruption to the normal structure and function of chromosomes, which hold our genetic information.
Chromosomal damage is strongly linked to an increased risk of cancer, faster aging, and genetic harm that may be passed down to future generations.
While the latest cancer research, published in Science, did not directly study cannabis use, it showed how damaged mitochondria could lead to chromosomal harm.
The researchers in Addiction Biology used this insight to better understand how cannabis might cause similar cellular issues.
They suggest that this genotoxic effect could be present even if we aren’t immediately aware of it.
One of the study’s co-authors, Dr. Stuart Reece, highlighted the importance of these findings for public health. He explained that the study’s results suggest cannabis use might not just be a personal choice, as its genetic effects could impact children and grandchildren.
This could mean that the decision to use cannabis might carry potential health risks for multiple future generations, not just the user.
The research points out that while cannabis is often viewed as a less harmful substance, its effects on DNA and cells could have serious implications for health that extend beyond the individual. This insight may prompt further studies and discussions about cannabis legalization, considering the long-term genetic risks.
In summary, the findings emphasize the need to consider cannabis’s potential impacts on genetic health and the risks that could carry over to future generations. With more understanding of these effects, individuals and policymakers alike may be better informed about the risks of cannabis use on both personal and public health levels.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about vitamin D and bowel cancer, and a cautionary note about peanuts and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the link between ultra-processed foods and cancer, and everyday foods to ward off pancreatic cancer.
Source: KSR.
