Smoking Marijuana: Risks and Studies
Studies and activities have been performed to provide useful data in defining the health risks of marijuana smoking as well as the association between marijuana and cancer. These include the following:
• Prospective epidemiological studies of populations at high risk for HIV infection or having HIV seropositivity – Since HIV/AIDs patients consists the largest group, which reports smoking marijuana for medical use, a pressing need for a thorough understanding of the relative risk posed by and the rewards of marijuana smoking. More so, such group is vulnerable to immunosuppressive effects. Studies associating marijuana and HIV/AIDS should incorporate the history of marijuana usage in analyzing the possible risk factors for seroconversion. More so, studies should be able to analyze how the opportunistic infections of AIDS are acquired and how they progress. Studies can be conducted under the scope of federal approved clinical trials of marijuana in immuno-compromised patients. In addition, such studies should be able to provide a follow-up phase, which is enough to draw plausible adverse occurrences.
• Molecular markers of respiratory cancer progression in marijuana smokers – Studies would be prompted to explore on the presence of molecular markers in the event that an epidemiological association between marijuana and cancer is presented. These molecular markers include p16, GSTML, TP53, and NATZ, which can be predictive of increased risk of carcinogenesis in marijuana smokers.
• Case control studies in determining the associated risk of marijuana and cancer development in the respiratory system – Findings from cellular, genetic, biochemical, animal, and tissue studies have suggested a plausible link between using of marijuana and cancer development. Such hypothesis can be addressed with more conviction through a population-based case control study of adequate large numbers of people with lung cancer. Consequently, the study should also consist of large numbers of people with upper aerodigestive tumors such as oral cavity cancer, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus cancers. Noncancer controls are also needed in order to demonstrate a statistically significant association between marijuana and cancer, that is, if one link actually exists. No epidemiological studies have been comprehensive enough to gauge the link between marijuana and cancer due to the fact that long periods are required to induce human carcinomas. On the other hand, today, an epidemiological investigation may already be possible in finding an association between marijuana and cancer. This is because over thirty years have passed since the beginning of widespread use of marijuana among adolescents and young adults in the United States.
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