The next time you visit the dentist, you may need to field a couple questions about your marijuana habits. That’s because of the growing awareness among dentists that heavy cannabis use may result in significantly higher risk of head and neck cancer.
John Brooks, DDS, a dentist and clinical professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in Baltimore, recently cowrote an article in a major dentistry journal laying out the research for his colleagues — most recently a study published in 2024 of adults diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.
“The study established a strong link between smoking cannabis and the development of cancer of the head and neck, and corroborated the findings of smaller-sized studies,” says Dr. Brooks.
Marijuana Use Could Raise the Risk of Head and Neck Cancer Up to Eightfold
The study published in 2024 that Brooks and his coauthors drew from examined medical records of nearly 120,000 adults diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.
Cannabis-use disorder refers to being unable to stop using marijuana even though it’s causing health and social problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers who conducted that study found that the risk of head and neck cancer — particularly laryngeal, oropharyngeal, oral, and salivary cancers — was 2 to 8 times higher for people with cannabis use disorder compared with people without.
Smoking May Pose Greater Risks Than Edibles, but More Research Is Needed
The study didn’t delve into how participants consumed cannabis, such as smoking, ingesting edibles, or vaping. But Brooks notes that smoking is the most common method.
“There is a large volume of literature that has demonstrated various carcinogens in cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke,” Brooks says. “Thus, these carcinogens play a [likely] role in the development of head and neck cancer.”
In their journal article, Brooks and his coauthors point out that cannabis smoke — which users often inhale more deeply than tobacco smoke, without filtration — contains compounds known to damage DNA and promote inflammation and tumor growth.
“We know that smoking in general is associated with an increased risk of head and neck cancers,” says Richard Lee, MD, a medical oncologist and medical director of supportive and integrative medicine at City of Hope in Duarte, California. Dr. Lee was not involved with the new article.
“Anytime you’re exposed to the byproducts of burning materials — whether it’s smoking cannabis or cigarettes — you’re exposing those bodily tissues to smoke, and we know there are carcinogens in smoke itself,” he explains.
Whether there’s also a cancer risk associated with marijuana edibles is an area for future study, Lee says.
Additional research should also address the dose of cannabis related to the risk for head and neck cancer, Brooks says, as well as the potential risks of medical marijuana.
What Is Head and Neck Cancer?
Head and neck cancer is a collective term for a variety of cancers that develop inside the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, nasal cavity, and salivary glands. Head and neck cancer accounts for about 4 percent of all cancers in the United States and it’s more common in men than women.
Symptoms of head and neck cancer can include:
Red or white patches on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
Growths or swelling of the jaw
Bleeding or pain in the mouth
Pain when swallowing
Pain in the neck, throat, or ears
Problems with hearing
Problems breathing or speaking
Chronic sinus infections that don’t respond to treatment
Swelling under the chin or around the jaw
Numbness in facial muscles
Alcohol and tobacco use are the two biggest risk factors for head and neck cancers. But, as Brooks and his coauthors point out, cannabis use could be another risk factor.
“This manuscript provides a nice summary of the clinical and molecular data, potentially drawing links between cannabis use and head and neck cancer risk,” says Alan Ho, MD, chief of head and neck oncology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who was not involved with the new article.
“But more research is needed to definitely establish these links and clarify what components of cannabis and routes of ingestion are the most relevant for cancer risk,” Dr. Ho says.
How Many Americans Use Marijuana?
About one-quarter of Americans report using cannabis every year. People use it recreationally (a practice that is legal in several states) and therapeutically as a treatment for anxiety, depression, insomnia, or chronic pain.
The American Cancer Society says people with certain symptoms of cancer or side effects from cancer treatment — like pain, nausea, or sleep problems — may benefit from cannabis. However, the organization recommends discussing the potential risks with your healthcare provider.
Ho says more research is needed on the use of cannabis in different clinical settings “to provide the evidence practitioners require to provide clear and informed advice to patients.”
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Brooks J et al. What Every Dentist Needs to Know About Cannabis Use and Head And Neck Cancer. General Dentistry. September-October 2025.
Baldwin GT et al. Current Cannabis Use in the United States: Implications for Public Health Research. American Journal of Public Health. November 2024.
Azcarate PM et al. Medical Reasons for Marijuana Use, Forms of Use, and Patient Perception of Physician Attitudes Among the US Population. Journal of General Internal Medicine. April 2020.
Possible Benefits of Cannabis for People With Cancer. American Cancer Society. July 11, 2025.
Tom Gavin joined Everyday Health as copy chief in 2022 after a lengthy stint as a freelance copy editor. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from College of the Holy Cross.
Prior to working for Everyday Health, he wrote, edited, copy edited, and fact-checked for books, magazines, and digital content covering a range of topics, including women's health, lifestyle, recipes, restaurant reviews, travel, and more. His clients have included Frommer's, Time-Life, and Google, among others.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he likes to spend his time making music, fixing too-old electronics, and having fun with his family and the dog who has taken up residence in their home.
Erica Sweeney has been a journalist for more than two decades. These days, she mostly covers health and wellness as a freelance writer. Her work regularly appears in The New York Times, Men’s Health, HuffPost, Self, and many other publications. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she previously worked in local media and still lives.
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