Thursday, December 5, 2024
HomeEntertainmentBREAKING: Tommy Chong fighting prostate cancer

BREAKING: Tommy Chong fighting prostate cancer

(CNN) — Tommy Chong, one-half of the marijuana-loving “Cheech and Chong” comedy duo, is battling prostate cancer, he announced Saturday on CNN.

Having first noticed symptoms about eight years ago while incarcerated for selling drug paraphernalia, Chong said he was diagnosed “about a month ago.” He revealed his condition in an interview about his support for decriminalizing marijuana use and sales.

“I’ve got prostate cancer, and I’m treating it with hemp oil, with cannabis,” he told CNN’s Don Lemon. “So (legalizing marijuana) means a lot more to me than just being able to smoke a joint without being arrested.”

Chong described the cancer “as a slow stage one (that I’ve) had for a long time.” He said that he was drug free for about three years, during which time he began having prostate-related problems.

“So I know it had nothing to do with cannabis,” he said. “Cannabis is a cure.”

He and his on-screen partner Cheech Marin recorded a series of hot-selling comedy albums in the early 1970s, before hitting the big screen in 1978 with “Up in Smoke.” It was the first of several “Cheech and Chong” films chronicling the adventures and misadventures of the stoner pair. The two continue to tour as a comedic act, with shows scheduled for later this month and the fall, according to their official website.

Besides the “Cheech and Chong” films, Chong has appeared in several TV series, such as “That 70’s Show.” He’s authored several books including “The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint” about his “family business” specializing in handmade bongs, arrest and nine months in federal prison, according to his and Marin’s website.

Chong, 74, explained to CNN that he doesn’t smoke marijuana, which he said he’d quit about a year ago “for health reasons,” to treat his prostate cancer. Rather, he said the ingests the hemp oil “at night, so I won’t be woozy all day.”

“I’m taking it as a medicine,” he said.

Arlene Culpepper, Asst. Editor-in-Chief
Arlene Culpepper, Asst. Editor-in-Chiefhttp://www.mikodreamz.com
Vice-President & Asst. Editor-in-Chief of The Heat Magazine, Arlene is a Louisiana native, Certified Paralegal, Publicist, Owner of MIKODreamz PR, co-owner of 504Diffusion, writer, producer, and jack of all trades, who is heavily involved in her community as well as serving as Media Advisor for New Orleans Union for Entertainment (NOUE), Member of the NOLA Music Awards from 2012-present & Member of the Press Club of New Orleans. Her work is published across the web. Her PR work has been highly recognized & awarded. She was/is publicist for the late great BTY YoungN, 0017th and more. She is also working on her first novel & aspires to turn it into a film & is currently writing the authorized biography of the legendary Pimp C of UGK. She can be reached via email at Arlene@theheatmag.com. Follow her on Twitter - @CategorySeven & Instagram - @hurricanearlene.
RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Recent Comments

Melissa Ellis on CONTROL!!!
Arlene Culpepper, Asst. Editor-in-Chief on STRAIT JIGG: ‘Ova Ya Dome’ Mixtape Debuts
GI GI on Interviews
bestever2682 on Lil Kim Boycotts BET Awards
J. 'StraitJigg' Wineburg on 16 Year Old Becomes Face of Louis Vuitton
J. 'StraitJigg' Wineburg on 16 Year Old Becomes Face of Louis Vuitton
Arlene Culpepper, Asst. Editor-in-Chief on Jack Spratt: A Genuine New Orleans Original
Arlene Culpepper, Asst. Editor-in-Chief on D.E.T.D.F.’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt
J. 'StraitJigg' Wineburg on Mike Tyson Covers Esquire Magazine (Photo)