Study Reveals Cannabis Use Disorder Linked to Three Times Higher Risk of Oral Cancer - Video

A new study published in Preventive Medicine Reports by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggests that individuals diagnosed with cannabis use disorder are more than three times more likely to develop oral cancer within five years than those without the disorder. The findings raise new concerns about the long-term health implications of problematic cannabis use as legalization and daily consumption become more widespread.

With 17.7 million people reporting daily or near-daily cannabis use in 2022, understanding the associated health risks has become increasingly urgent.

To assess the relationship between cannabis use disorder and oral cancer, researchers analyzed electronic health records from over 45,000 patients. Of those, 949 had been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. After adjusting for variables such as age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status, individuals with cannabis use disorder were found to have a 325% increased risk of developing oral cancer within five years compared to those without it. The risk was even higher 624% among tobacco smokers with cannabis use disorder compared to tobacco smokers without cannabis use disorder.

“Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth,” said study author Raphael Cuomo, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic or problematic cannabis use may contribute to cancer risk in tissues exposed to combustion products.”

Even after accounting for tobacco use, the link between CUD and oral cancer remained strong, suggesting additional factors such as THC’s immune-suppressing effects could be involved. The study underscores the importance of integrating oral health screening and education into substance use disorder care. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this association and to guide future public health messaging.

Reference: Cuomo, R. E. (2025). Cannabis use disorder and five-year risk of oral cancer in a multicenter clinical cohort. Preventive Medicine Reports, 103185.