# Are there any deaths attributed to marijuana usage? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539 "2012-12-19T16:39:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/21 "2012-12-20T02:29:06Z")
I turned off my autocorrect a long time ago. I’d rather have it stay “menrality” than become "menstral or something. I’ve been totally clean for a long time though. Even if it were legal, I couldn’t smoke it, because, no doubt, my work would start testing. ---
**Author:** ![Klostertal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Klostertal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klostertal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/22 "2012-12-20T05:00:07Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > However, much in the same way that tobacco smoking increases the risk of cancer, smoking dope apparently has been strongly linked with various mental illnesses in later life. Evidence… where it be mon? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/23 "2012-12-20T09:23:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Hey! Those are based on true stories. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. If she let her baby drown, she wasn’t _innocent_. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/24 "2012-12-20T12:34:48Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > [Tuberculosis Outbreak in Marijuana Users, Seattle, Washington, 2004](http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/12/7/05-1436_article.htm) To be fair, prolonged close contact in a closed environment with someone who has TB and is coughing is a really bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/25 "2012-12-20T14:25:59Z")
> [@Pitter\_Patter](#): > > Ok, let me ask a simpler related question. Has anyone died as a result of elevdated thc levels? I visited the Museum of Hemp & Marijuana last year while in Amsterdam and according to them, the answer is NO. I tried to find a cite, but their website is pretty lame and much of it is in Dutch. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/26 "2012-12-20T15:37:43Z")
Marijuana seems to double the chance of testicular cancer: [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/us-marijuana-cancer-idUSBRE88A03720120911](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/us-marijuana-cancer-idUSBRE88A03720120911) and increase the risk of lung cancer by 8% [http://www.ersj.org.uk/content/31/2/280.short](http://www.ersj.org.uk/content/31/2/280.short) Like nicotine, thc itself is relatively safe (alcohol really isn’t, it isn’t that hard to poison yourself drinking) - at least as far as managing to overdose goes, its very likely just the smoking that is problematic - along with impairment (driving under the influence). Even just breathing wood smoke is linked to cancer. ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/27 "2012-12-20T16:02:57Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Marijuana seems to double the chance of testicular cancer: > > [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/us-marijuana-cancer-idUSBRE88A03720120911](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/us-marijuana-cancer-idUSBRE88A03720120911) > > and increase the risk of lung cancer by 8% > > [http://www.ersj.org.uk/content/31/2/280.short](http://www.ersj.org.uk/content/31/2/280.short) > > . You can always find some study that supports your argument. [Here’s one](http://www.alternet.org/drugs/media-ignored-experts-shocking-findings-marijuana-helps-prevent-lung-cancer-now-its-med-school?akid=9578.225201.54UyMZ&rd=1&src=newsletter732160&t=10&paging=off) that says exactly the opposite. Also, there is no credible argument that ANYTHING in life is totally harmless. Anything you choose can be harmful to someone in some circumstance. I have a friend who almost died from eating shrimp–he has a severe allergy to shellfish. Therefore, should we ban seafood? You can die from a condition called [hyponatremia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia). It would be very difficult to avoid the substance that causes this. What I, and many others, advocate is a rational, fact-based approach to the issue of marijuana use, which may be finally about to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/28 "2012-12-20T17:25:29Z")
> [@dataguy](#): > > You can always find some study that supports your argument. [Here’s one](http://www.alternet.org/drugs/media-ignored-experts-shocking-findings-marijuana-helps-prevent-lung-cancer-now-its-med-school?akid=9578.225201.54UyMZ&rd=1&src=newsletter732160&t=10&paging=off) that says exactly the opposite. > > Also, there is no credible argument that ANYTHING in life is totally harmless. Anything you choose can be harmful to someone in some circumstance. I have a friend who almost died from eating shrimp–he has a severe allergy to shellfish. Therefore, should we ban seafood? > > You can die from a condition called [hyponatremia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia). It would be very difficult to avoid the substance that causes this. > > What I, and many others, advocate is a rational, fact-based approach to the issue of marijuana use, which may be finally about to happen. Your link doesn’t say that. It says that there may be cancer suppressing compounds in marijuana, not that smoking it would prevent cancer. As I said, its believed that the health issues are primarily in the method of ingestion. And where did I say anything about banning it? Having health risks does not mean we should ban it. However, people should have enough information on the risks to be able to weigh the benefits against them. Frankly, I don’t have testicles, that isn’t a huge deal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/29 "2012-12-20T17:44:32Z")
> [@Klostertal](#): > > Evidence… where it be mon? [Cannabis May Cause Schizophrenia-Like Brain Changes](http://www.google.ch/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=marihuana%20schizophrenia&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Flib%2F2012%2Fcannabis-may-cause-schizophrenia-like-brain-changes%2F&ei=7kvTUJOEDc_34QTzpYCQBw&usg=AFQjCNF7H3I8RBjsiizAJOnD7Z6ZM0of8A&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.Yms) (PsychCentral) [Teens who smoke pot at risk for later schizophrenia, psychosis](http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/teens-who-smoke-pot-at-risk-for-later-schizophrenia-psychosis-201103071676) (Harvard Health) [Marijuana worsens schizophrenia](http://www.livescience.com/10700-marijuana-worsens-schizophrenia.html) Live Science [Marijuana / Cannabis and Schizophrenia](http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/streetdrugs.html) ([schizophrenia.com](http://schizophrenia.com)) [How Cannabis Use During Adolescence Affects Brain Regions Associated With Schizophrenia](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508112748.htm) (science daily) or [searching science scholar](http://scholar.google.ch/scholar?hl=en&q=Marijuana+schizophrenia&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp=) ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/30 "2012-12-20T17:48:12Z")
> [@Pitter\_Patter](#): > > Ok, let me ask a simpler related question. Has anyone died as a result of elevdated thc levels? “…to date, there are no deaths known to have resulted from overdose of cannabis.” ([cite](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163725802002528)). The wikipedia page that I actually [snagged](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LD50_of_THC#Toxicity) that cite from does note that there have been deaths related to Marinol, the pharmaceutical which intended to provide only THC (seeing as cannabis actually contains [many](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)) more psychoactive compounds in addition to THC). So it may be possible to somehow overdose on THC but it would require an extraction process (to isolate that specific compound and and then join a significant number of these together) and a method of ingestion (pills, rather than smoking or baking it into food) that aren’t found in the natural smoking world. I believe the body would become too sluggish or actually go to sleep long before any level of dangerous toxicity could be reached via smoking or eating cannabis, but this is General Questions 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/31 "2012-12-20T18:06:49Z")
An article from the Medical Journal of Australia: [The human toxicity of marijuana.](http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/1313532/reload=0) > [@](#): > > The pathophysiological effects of marijuana smoke and its constituent cannabinoids were reported first from in-vitro and in-vivo experimental studies. Marijuana smoke is mutagenic in the Ames test and in tissue culture and cannabinoids inhibit biosynthesis of macromolecules. In animals, marijuana or delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the intoxicating material it contains, produces symptoms of neurobehavioural toxicity, disrupts all phases of gonadal or reproductive function, and is fetotoxic. Smoking marijuana can lead to symptoms of airway obstruction as well as squamous metaplasia. Clinical manifestations of pathophysiology due to marijuana smoking are now being reported. These include: long-term impairment of memory in adolescents; prolonged impairment of psychomotor performance; a sixfold increase in the incidence of schizophrenia; cancer of mouth, jaw, tongue and lung in 19-30 year olds; fetotoxicity; and non-lymphoblastic leukemia in children of marijuana-smoking mothers. The Medical Journal of Australia [1992, 156(7):495-497] ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/32 "2012-12-20T18:33:44Z")
> [@Anaglyph](#): > > An article from the Medical Journal of Australia: > > [The human toxicity of marijuana.](http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/1313532/reload=0) > The Medical Journal of Australia [1992, 156(7):495-497] Dr. Gabriel G. Nahas, the author of this, and other anti-marijuana studies was not considered by his peers to be a credible researcher. [Here’s more info](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/health/dr-gabriel-nahas-researcher-who-waged-a-campaign-against-marijuana-dies-at-92.html?_r=0) on him. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/33 "2012-12-20T19:01:49Z")
> [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](#): > > “…to date, there are no deaths known to have resulted from overdose of cannabis.” ([cite](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163725802002528)). Lord knows I’ve tried.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/34 "2012-12-20T19:40:29Z")
> [@dataguy](#): > > Dr. Gabriel G. Nahas, the author of this, and other anti-marijuana studies was not considered by his peers to be a credible researcher. Maybe it’s because his parents gave him a girl’s name… ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/35 "2012-12-20T19:54:04Z")
Gabriel is a girl’s name where you come from? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/36 "2012-12-20T20:33:37Z")
I recall a spate of fatal train wrecks about 20 years ago where the crews inevitably tested positive for marijuana. A few years ago there was another spate of railway accidents and the common culprit was texting. The real cause in these cases is probably boredom. ---
**Author:** ![Fact\_of\_the\_Matter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Fact\_of\_the\_Matter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fact_of_the_Matter)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/37 "2012-12-21T00:33:40Z")
> [@dataguy](#): > > You can die from a condition called [hyponatremia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia). It would be very difficult to avoid the substance that causes this. > > What I, and many others, advocate is a rational, fact-based approach to the issue of marijuana use, which may be finally about to happen. Hyponatremia can be caused by many more things than an excess intake of water, if that is what you are meaning. To equate water and marijuana use as being equally harmful is just not true. ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/38 "2012-12-21T01:51:01Z")
> [@Fact\_of\_the\_Matter](#): > > To equate water and marijuana use as being equally harmful is just not true. True. They’re not “cannabis-boarding” them over there to keep us safe over here. 🙂 ETA: Dude! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/39 "2012-12-21T02:57:33Z")
> [@yearofglad](#): > > In Vancouver, WA yesterday, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a truck driver under the influence of marijuana, as reported here: > > [Man struck, killed by truck driver on marijuana in Vancouver, police say - oregonlive.com](http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2012/12/male_pedestrian_struck_killed.html) Not any more, legally: > [@](#): > > Prosecutors have decided not to move forward with a case against a driver accused of smoking marijuana before a deadly crash in Vancouver. > > - snip - > > Prosecutors said they reserve the right to file new charges against Rowles at a later date, pending the results of the final police investigation. > > After his arrest, Rowles submitted to a blood test that was entered into evidence to be checked for the presence of marijuana. Those results have not yet been revealed. [http://www.kptv.com/story/20395131/charges-dropped-for-driver-accused-of-pot-use-in-deadly-crash](http://www.kptv.com/story/20395131/charges-dropped-for-driver-accused-of-pot-use-in-deadly-crash) ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539/40 "2012-12-21T13:16:10Z")
> [@Fact\_of\_the\_Matter](#): > > Hyponatremia can be caused by many more things than an excess intake of water, if that is what you are meaning. To equate water and marijuana use as being equally harmful is just not true. Assuming that you’re simply missing the point rather than evading it, here it is, as stated in my original post: “Also, there is no credible argument that ANYTHING in life is totally harmless. Anything you choose can be harmful to someone in some circumstance.” The equation you mention is in your mind, not in my post. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deaths-attributed-to-marijuana-usage/644539.md?page=1)