ABSTRACT
Twenty cases of advanced head and neck cancer in young patients, who were regular marijuana users, are presented. Numerous carcinogens, as well as respiratory irritants, are found in marijuana smoke. The active euphoria-producing agent, ⌂1-9 tetrahydrocanabinol produces altered T-cell function in some in vitro systems and has been implicated in altered DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis and consequent chromosomal aberrations. Key perturbations may be in altered arginine metabolism resulted in disturbed nuclear histone synthesis and perhaps the unmasking of oncogene suppression.
