Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California analyzed millions of medical records focusing on cannabis use disorder. Cannabis use disorder is defined as people who use the drug daily, develop a high tolerance, and continue to use it even when it causes them health problems.

Doctors told News 12 that marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as cigarette smoke.

“The presence of high levels of carcinogens leads to protein abnormalities in the cell, called neoantigens, and the body tries to respond to them because they look foreign,” says Dr. Barry Boyd of Greenwich Hospital.

Boyd says several factors can lead to head and neck cancer, including some strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV vaccine and not smoking are two ways to prevent these cancers.

Earlier this year, another study showed that smoking, vaping or taking edible marijuana daily was associated with a 25% higher risk of heart attack and a 42% higher risk of stroke.