Historically, there has been no definitive link between smoking cannabis and lung cancer; however, new research suggests otherwise.
Historically, there has been no definitive link between smoking cannabis and lung cancer; however, new research suggests otherwise.
The retrospective cohort study used 20 years of deidentified electronic medical record data from 67 tertiary healthcare organizations across the United States (Lung Cancer 2026 Jun:216:109421). After comparing adults diagnosed with cannabis use disorder and those without, the data revealed that "individuals with cannabis use disorder demonstrated a significantly higher risk of developing lung and/or bronchus cancer compared to those without cannabis use disorder."
The authors of the study concluded: "Given the rising prevalence of cannabis use, further research is needed to clarify dose-response relationships and the biological mechanisms driving these associations. Clinicians should consider these risks when advising patients about cannabis use."
Prior pooled analyses and meta-analyses typically found no clear association between cannabis and lung cancer. However, as a 2019 JAMA Network Open review noted, these studies were limited by low cumulative exposure in study populations, young participant age, short follow-up and poor quantification of cannabis use (2019;2[11]:e1916318).
Ultimately, while definitive causation has yet to be established, the weight of emerging evidence including biological, histopathologic, and now large-cohort epidemiologic research supports a precautionary approach when counseling your patients.