Cannabis Users Face Up to 5-Fold Higher Risk of Benign Mouth Tumors

Benign cancerous growths in the salivary glands, while not life-threatening, can cause discomfort, swelling, and, in some cases, functional problems.

Marijuana products on a shelf at a cannabis store in New York City on Dec. 29, 2022. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

New research suggests that problematic cannabis use might be linked to the development of noncancerous tumors in the salivary glands, which are responsible for producing saliva in the mouth.

Problematic cannabis use was linked to an up to five-fold risk of developing these benign growths when compared with the general population, according to research published recently in a leading medical journal.