Cannabis exposure is associated with genetic damage, accelerated aging, and birth defects, raising concerns about its transgenerational health effects and public health implications. Study: Key insights into cannabis-cancer pathobiology and genotoxicity . Image Credit: Nicole Piepgras/Shutterstock.
com In a recent study published in Addiction Biology , authors explored the mechanisms of cannabinoid-induced mitochondrial stress, micronuclear formation, and genotoxic damage and their implications for cancer, congenital anomalies, aging, and transgenerational genomic integrity. Key insights Cannabis has long been associated with micronuclear formation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genotoxic effects, which contribute to cancer, congenital anomalies, and accelerated aging. Recent studies highlight the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inducing chromosomal damage and genomic instability through mechanisms such as micronuclear rupture and chromothripsis (extensive chromosome shattering and chaotic reassembly).
With the increasing potency of cannabis products and rising consumption rates, these pathobiological impacts raise significant public health concerns, especially regarding transgenerational effects on genomic integrity. Further research is needed to clarify these mechanisms and address the broader implications for cancer, congenital defects, and epigenetic inheritance. Cannabis exposure has been associated with mitochondrial inhibition, which disrupts cellular energy p.