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The Annotated Bibliography

Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

COMM19999 Essential Communication Skills

March 21th , 2023

The Annotated Bibliography: Marijuana & Health

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1. Can Bowles, D. W., O’Bryant, C. L., Camidge, D. R., & Jimeno, A. (2012, July). The

intersection between cannabis and cancer in the United States. Critical Reviews in

Oncology/Hematology, 83(1), 1–10.

The main idea of the article, “The intersection between cannabis and cancer in the

United States” -written by Bowles et al., is to examine the effectiveness of

recreational marijuana in maintaining symptoms of cancer in patients, the

pharmacologic properties of cannabinoids and cannabis, the role of cannabis usage

in cancer development and cancer therapy as well as the current legal status of

cannabis usage in the United States (2012). In the last 15 years, there has been a

major change in the laws governing the medical use of cannabis in the US. The use

of medical cannabinoids and cannabis has increased greatly in the last 30 years. The

US has passed laws to eliminate criminal penalties for medically approved

recreational cannabis use and possession to cure cancer. Cannabinoids are divided

into endogenous endocannabinoids, Phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids arbitrate their actions via cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and CB2,

two G-coupled receptors in the endocannabinoid signalling system or the activation

of either (Bowles et al., 2012, p. 2). The main concern over the medical use of

cannabinoids is that inhaled cannabis has the potential risk of carcinogenic. There is

direct evidence that cannabinoids or THC in smoke are carcinogenic and can

develop cancer. Moreover, there is evidence that recreational cannabinoids have

anti-cancer effects. The anti-tumour effect includes inhibition of angiogenesis/ cells

and suppression of proliferative cell signalling pathways (Bowles et al., 2012, p. 3).

In every state in the US where cannabis is approved for medical purposes after

cannabis has qualified as cancer palliation. Even cannabis smoke contains

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carcinogenic components it is been difficult to correlate cannabis use and cancer

development epidemiologically.

This article doesn’t have much information about the negative and positive aspects

of the usage of recreational marijuana in someone’s life. As per this article,

recreational marijuana becomes more popular in the medical field to treat cancer and

has become legalized to use in the United States. It has an anti-cancer effect where it

can inhibit the growth of cells and suppress the signal pathway of proliferative cells

(Bowles et al., 2012, p.3). Even though it has the benefit of treating cancer, this

study points out that marijuana smoke contains carcinogenic particles as a result

there are chances to develop cancers in the human body.

2. Callaghan, R. C., Allebeck, P., & Sidorchuk, A. (2013, October). Marijuana use and

risk of lung cancer: A 40-year cohort study. Cancer Causes & Control, 24(10),

1811–1820.

The main idea of the article “Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: A 40-year

cohort study” written by Callaghan et al., to aims whether cannabis smoking might

facilitate the development of lung cancer (2013). Marijuana and tobacco smoke

contain carcinogen contents which is a potential factor for cancer development, but

marijuana smoke condensates are even more mutagenic and cytotoxic. During

military conscription in Sweden, a population-based cohort study was conducted

among the age group of 18-20 years men in 1969-1970. The participants were

examined until 2009 for incident lung cancer outcomes in nationwide linked medical

registries (Callaghan et al., 2013, p. 1813). Heavy marijuana users at the time of

recruitment were found to be associated with more than a 2.1-fold increased risk of

lung cancer after 40 years of follow-up, even after adjusting for baseline alcohol use,
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tobacco use, respiratory condition, and socioeconomic status (Callaghan et al., 2013,

p. 1815). The 40-year cohort study demonstrated the high risk of lung cancer among

heavy marijuana smokers, which does bolster the few epidemiological studies that

state the significant and positive relation between marijuana smoking and lung

cancer as well as the large body of in vitro and in vivo experimental evidence

supporting the biological plausibility of a correlation between the two (Callaghan et

al., 2013, p. 1817). As per the primary findings, it is evident that the usage of

marijuana might raise the risk of developing cancer in the lung.  

This study did not contain detailed assessment information on use patterns of

tobacco or cannabis preceding the baseline conscription process and the use after

conscription (Callaghan et al., 2013, p. 1818). The study examines the correlation

between cannabis use and the risk of developing lung cancer, which concludes there

are high and positive relations between marijuana smoking and developing cancer in

the lungs. After 40 years of follow-up, this study was able to associate the

participants who use marijuana heavily with more than a 2.1-fold raised risk of

developing lung cancer than non-users (Callaghan et al., 2013, p.1815). This study

provides evidence to support the fact of adverse effects of marijuana usage linked

with developing cancer in the lungs.

3. Marks, M. A., Chaturvedi, A. K., Kelsey, K., Straif, K., Berthiller, J., Schwartz, S.

M., Smith, E., Wyss, A., Brennan, P., Olshan, A. F., Wei, Q., Sturgis, E. M., Zhang,

Z.-F., Morgenstern, H., Muscat, J., Lazarus, P., McClean, M., Chen, C., Vaughan, T.

L., … D'Souza, G. (2014, January 12). Association of marijuana smoking with

oropharyngeal and oral tongue cancers: Pooled analysis from the INHANCE

Consortium. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 23(1), 160–171.

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The main idea of the article, “Association of marijuana smoking with oropharyngeal

and oral tongue cancers: Pooled analysis from the INHANCE Consortium” -written

by Marks et al., to investigate the correlation of marijuana usage with cancers of the

oropharynx and oral tongue (2014). Oral tongue and oropharyngeal cancers have

raised over the last 20 years due to the increased usage of marijuana among

individuals born after 1950. A pooled examination was arranged comprising

individual-level data from nine case-control studies from Latin America and the

United States. The study covered 1,921 oropharyngeal cancer cases, 356 tongue

cancer cases, and 7,639 controls. When differentiate from non-marijuana smokers,

marijuana users have a high risk of oropharyngeal cancer and reduced cases of oral

tongue cancer. Moreover, traditional risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol use,

human papillomavirus has a major role in arising oropharynx cancers. The study

revealed that marijuana use is strongly related to an elevated risk of positive human

papillomavirus oropharyngeal cancer. After adjusting the potential of human

papillomavirus infection associated with marijuana, the risk factor of developing

oropharyngeal cancer has become decreased. The associations of marijuana use with

oral tongue and oropharyngeal cancer are persistent with both the pro-carcinogenic

and anti-carcinogenic effects of cannabinoids (Marks et al., 2014).

The study was conducted to find out the correlation between marijuana usage

associated with oropharynx and oral tongue cancer. The study reports that there are

likely high chances of developing oropharyngeal cancer from the usage of marijuana

when compared with non-marijuana smokers as it has the presence of carcinogenic

effects of cannabinoids. Even though the study has relevant evidence to prove the

fact of correlation between marijuana usage with cancer development in the

oropharynx and oral tongue, additional research is needed to rule out various sources
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of bias which include misclassification of marijuana and residual confounding by

HPV infection.

4. Morrow, A. (2023, March 20). Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana for Medicinal

Use. Verywell Health.

The main idea of the article, “Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana for Medicinal

Use” written by Morrow for Verywell Health to identify the pros and cons of

legalized recreational marijuana which is used for medical purposes (Morrow,

2023). Medical marijuana is highly available in the United States. Thirty-seven

states in the United State legalized the usage of marijuana for medical purposes but

still consider it under Schedule I controlled substance, alongside heroine. Legalized

recreational marijuana results in some health benefits which include relief from

nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, relief from the pain associated with

multiple sclerosis, relief from chronic pain caused by nerve damage, and it treats

appetite loss related to conditions like certain types of cancers and HIV/AIDS.

Instead of using an opioid drug, marijuana is far better for pain management.

Marijuana can be used in non-smoking applicable ways. The people don’t need to be

“high”; they can choose the treatment options where the product doesn’t contain the

THC component (Morrow, 2023). Although marijuana has many benefits, there are

still some negative sides too. Marijuana usage can impair cognitive ability, affect

short-term memory, can damage lung tissue from marijuana smoke, carries the risk

of abuse or addiction, impaired driving can cause accidents and have no currently

accepted medical value (Morrow, 2023).

This article is relevantly used to support the fact that the use of recreational

marijuana comes with positive and negative outcomes. Even though the article
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didn’t have detailed information on the pros and cons of medically approved

cannabis usage, can’t be neglected the fact of the findings. According to Morrow,

even though marijuana is legalized in thirty-seven states, still comes under Schedule

I controlled substance, alongside heroin which is why there is a need for more

clinical research to study further (2023). The pros include relief from nausea,

vomiting, pain, and appetite loss (Morrow, 2023). The cons include a defect in short-

term memory, cognitive ability, and lung tissue as well as it carries the risk of

addiction (Morrow, 2023).

5. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2021, April 13). What are marijuana's effects on

lung health?

The main idea of the article “What are marijuana's effects on lung health?” written

by NIDA is to evaluate the impact of marijuana usage associated with the function

of the lung. Marijuana smoke is also an irritant to the throat like tobacco smoke. It

contains a high level of chemicals and tar (about 50% more benzoprene and 75%

more benzanthracene) which is same as the tobacco smoke (2021). Smoking

marijuana increases the risk of cancer and lung diseases because of how it is

typically smoked. Marijuana usage comes with inflammation in the airways, lung

hyperinflation, and raised airway resistance. Those who are smoke marijuana daily

or heavily have the indication of chronic bronchitis than non-smokers. Due to the

presence of THC’s immune-suppressing effects, smoking marijuana elevates the risk

of lung infection like pneumonia, especially the one who is immunocompromised;

however, it isn’t confirmed by the AID cohort study (NIDA, 2021). When

compared with cigarette smoking, marijuana smoking leads to four times the

deposition of tar on the lungs. Hundreds of reports of serious lung illnesses have
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been linked to vaping, including several deaths. Moreover, people who use both

tobacco and marijuana increase the contribution of lung cancer risk because of the

antitumor effect of THC and CBD presence in those products.

This article contains general information, which explains the correlation between

smoking tobacco and marijuana in developing lung cancer. According to this article,

marijuana and tobacco smoke increase the risk of lung cancer due to the presence of

antitumor effects of THC and CBD which is a known factor that causes cancers in

humans (NIDA, 2021). This study concludes marijuana smoke is more dangerous

than tobacco smoke as it is four times more capable to deposit tar on human lungs

(NIDA, 2021). The study helps to understand there are negative impacts on human

health and it can also cause death by smoking marijuana.

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References

Bowles, D. W., O’Bryant, C. L., Camidge, D. R., & Jimeno, A. (2012, July). The

intersection between cannabis and cancer in the United States. Critical Reviews in

Oncology/Hematology, 83(1),1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2011.09.008 

Callaghan, R. C., Allebeck, P., & Sidorchuk, A. (2013, October). Marijuana use and

risk of lung cancer: A 40-year cohort study. Cancer Causes & Control, 24(10),

1811–1820. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1433078767?

parentSessionId=4g48mGH6jSpaUQS0SNCHnbtUcxQiLHvm7WCIBOswT6g

%3D&pq-origsite=primo&accountid=3455

Marks, M. A., Chaturvedi, A. K., Kelsey, K., Straif, K., Berthiller, J., Schwartz, S.

M., Smith, E., Wyss, A., Brennan, P., Olshan, A. F., Wei, Q., Sturgis, E. M., Zhang,

Z.-F., Morgenstern, H., Muscat, J., Lazarus, P., McClean, M., Chen, C., Vaughan, T.

L., … D'Souza, G. (2014, January 12). Association of marijuana smoking with

oropharyngeal and oral tongue cancers: Pooled analysis from the INHANCE

Consortium. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 23(1), 160–171.

https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.epi-13-0181 
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Morrow, A. (2023, March 20). Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana for

Medicinal Use. Very well Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-the-

pros-and-cons-of-medical-marijuana-1132484

National Institute on Drug Abuse (2021, April 13). What are marijuana's effects on

lung health?https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-

marijuanas-effects-lung-health