Apparently it’s stoner folklore that doobs cause moobs–or, in more P.C. parlance, smoking marijuana can cause men to grow breast tissue. With medical marijuana becoming legal in states across the U.S., Philly.com delved deep and found that while the pro-pot contingent maintains there’s little scientific evidence behind the claim, it’s a shared belief in the medical community that there is a definitive link between marijuana usage and moobs.
Studies on the issue are few and far between since marijuana is still illegal in most states, but many plastic surgeons believe there is a link. One study found that marijuana has “widespread effects on multiple hormonal systems, including gonadal, adrenal, prolactin, growth hormone, and thyroid hormone regulation.” Or, as Philly.com put it, “When the drug throws off the normal balance of hormones, estrogen levels rise and stimulate breast tissue growth.”
“This is, of course, an inflammatory topic. There is skepticism either way,” said Adrian Lo, a plastic surgeon at Pennsylvania Hospital. “But in my experience, it’s very simple. If you’re a guy and you’re worried about gynecomastia, you shouldn’t smoke pot because there’s a link.” Robert X. Murphy Jr., president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, agreed that this was the prevailing opinion among plastic surgeons.
So if you’re worried about growing man boobs, you might want to put the bong down. You know, for science.