Miami, FL: Men over 50 with a history of cannabis use are no more likely to experience prostate cancer than are non-users, according to data published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports.
Investigators affiliated with the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine assessed the relationship between the lifetime use of cannabis and psychedelic drugs with prostate cancer diagnoses among a representative sample of older adults.
Researchers identified a slight correlation between psychedelic drug use and prostate cancer, but they reported no similar elevated risk among those who consumed cannabis. “No significant associations were found for cannabis-only use versus non-use,” they acknowledged.
“With the growing acceptance and accessibility of cannabis and psychedelics for both medical and recreational purposes, understanding their potential long-term health implications is essential, particularly for older adults who are at higher risk of prostate cancer diagnosis,” the study’s authors concluded. “[O]ur cross-sectional findings … may inform clinicians to consider discussing substance use histories, including cannabis and psychedelic use, during routine health assessments and cancer risk evaluations in aging male patients.”
Full text of the study, “Association between lifetime co-use of classic psychedelics and cannabis and prostate cancer diagnosis among US adults 50 years and older,” appears in Nature: Scientific Reports.