A groundbreaking study in Addiction Biology reveals the alarming potential of cannabis to inflict cellular damage. As a “genotoxic” substance, it can compromise DNA, increasing the risk of cancer and accelerating aging. Even more disturbingly, these genetic alterations may be inherited by offspring, making the consequences of cannabis use far-reaching.
Genotoxicity is a term used to describe the ability of a chemical or agent to damage genetic material, specifically DNA. This damage can lead to mutations, which may increase the risk of cancer and other health problems.
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There are many different types of genotoxic agents, including chemicals, radiation, and viruses. Some genotoxic agents act directly on DNA, while others act indirectly by damaging cellular processes that are important for DNA repair.
Genotoxicity is a serious health concern because it can lead to cancer and other genetic diseases. It is important to be aware of the potential risks of exposure to genotoxic agents and to take steps to protect yourself.
In a recent publication in Addiction Biology researchers from The University of Western Australia have made a link between established knowledge that cannabis use damages cellular energy production by inhibiting mitochondria and new cancer research published in Science showing that mitochondrial dysfunction drives chromosomal damage, which shows up as increased rates of cancer, accelerated aging, and birth defects.
“The link we’ve described between cannabis use and genotoxicity has far-reaching consequences,” commented co-author Dr. Stuart Reece. This new research shows how genetic damage from cannabis use can be passed down the generations. This should reframe the discussion surrounding cannabis legalization from a personal choice to one that potentially involves multiple subsequent generations.”
The Science studies were not conducted in the context of cannabis use; however, they provide mechanistic insights into some observations about cannabis use that were not previously well understood, such as that cannabis causes both mitochondrial and genetic damage. Taken together, the article in Addiction Biology put older historical research about cannabis into context and suggests that cannabis-related genotoxic damage may be all around us — even if we largely don’t see it.
