Greater Risks of Cancer Found in Alcohol than Marijuana

April 4th, 2009

According to Danish researchers, the risk of breast cancer doubles in women who drink around two bottles or more of wine a week. A study on the link between marijuana and cancer aggravation compared to alcohol was conducted on women who drank 22-27 drinks a week. The European Journal of Public Health had reported that the risk of having cancer was greatest in women who drank wine or alcohol in a short period as compared to marijuana smokers.

Based on this report, women are advised to limit the amount of alcohol they drink. In a study consisted of women with ages more than 44 years and drank a moderate amount of alcohol, found out that even small amounts of alcohol can ameliorate the risk of breast cancer.

As compared to alcohol, another study on marijuana and cancer has demonstrated that marijuana smoke consists of many carcinogens similar to tobacco. These include certain aromatic hydrocarbons with greater concentrations such as benzopyrene. These hydrocarbons raise the assumption that continuous inhalation of marijuana may be a risk factor for cancer development or aggravation. On the other hand, marijuana smoke also consists of cannabinoids including CBD or cannabidiol and THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in which alcohol does not have. These cannabinoids are non-carcinogenic and contain anti-cancer properties in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, alcohol and nicotine promote cancer cell development and blood supply. The study on marijuana and cancer had also found out that cannabinoids stimulate biological responses and activities, which may reduce the carcinogenic smoke effects including down-regulating the inflammatory arm of the immune system responsible in the production of potentially carcinogenic free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms, which are responsible in accelerating the progress of cancer.

Users of marijuana who are concerned with the rapid onset of action associated with inhalation and potential harms of marijuana smoke can cut down on their intake of carcinogenic compounds through vaporization instead of smoking the drug. According to different studies on marijuana and cancer aggravation, marijuana vaporization limits toxins in the respiratory system through heating marijuana to a temperature where the formation of cannabinoid vapors occurs. This may be around 180 – 190 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature should be below consumption point where associated toxins and noxious smoke are produces. This may be near 230 degrees Celsius. Based on the studies on marijuana and cancer, vaporization is considered to be a preferred method of using marijuana since it can carry doses of cannabinoids simultaneously with reducing the intake of carcinogenic smoke. More so, vaporization is considered as a safer method of marijuana administration as compared to inhaling marijuana from a water pipe or smoking marijuana cigarettes. According to the findings of a recent clinical trial on marijuana and cancer, use of the vaporizing device called “Volcano” delivers set doses of THC to participants in a reproducible way as in suppresses the intake of toxins in the respiratory system.