AsianScientist (Jun. 1, 2016) – Potheads, beware! Scientists in Australia have found that cannabis use is linked to DNA mutations that can be passed on to one’s children.
Their findings were published in the journal Mutation Research – Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis.
Among its many names, cannabis is also called marijuana and nicknamed ‘weed.’ Although the association between the use of cannabis and severe illnesses such as cancer has previously been documented, how this occurs and the implications for future generations was not previously understood.
Associate Professor Stuart Reece and Professor Gary Hulse from the University of Western Australia’s School of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences completed an extensive analysis of the research literature to understand the likely causes and uncovered alarming information.
“Through our research we found that cancers and illnesses were likely caused by cell mutations resulting from cannabis properties having a chemical interaction with a person’s DNA,” Reece said.
When the chemicals in cannabis changed a person’s DNA structure, it could lead to slow cell growth and have serious implications for fetal development, such as cancers or the poor development of limbs or vital organs.
“The worst cancers are reported in the first few years of life in children exposed in utero to cannabis effects,” he said.
The findings are significant as cannabis use is increasing in many nations around the world, the authors say.
The article can be found at: Reece & Hulse (2016) Chromothripsis and Epigenomics Complete Causality Criteria for Cannabis- and Addiction-connected Carcinogenicity, Congenital Toxicity and Heritable Genotoxicity.
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Source: University of Western Australia; Photo: James St. John/Flickr/CC.
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