Tommy Chong of “Cheech and Chong” fame revealed during an interview on June 9 that he is battling prostate cancer.
The 74-year-old comedian made the announcement during an interview with CNN, which can be seen below, and said he first noticed symptoms eight years ago. He was diagnosed “about a month ago” and says it was “a slow stage one [that I’ve] had for a long time.”
“I’m going to start treating it with cannabis oil or hemp oil,” Chong said. He later added he saw someone who cured their melanoma with hemp oil.
Chong is best known as half of the stoner comedy duo “Cheech and Chong,” alongside comedian Cheech Marin. During the late 1970s and early 1980s the duo collaborated on several movies like the 1978 film “Up in Smoke.”
In 1985 the two had a falling out but recently reunited to tour as a comedy act. Chong also appeared on several episodes of “That 70’s show.”
The comedian believes he got the cancer in prison.
“That’s my feeling. I was totally healthy when I went in jail and I hadn’t smoked pot before I went in jail and when I went in jail I was clean as a whistle because they drug tested me almost every day and I started having problems with my prostate.”
Chong served time in jail after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute drug paraphernalia. Chong financed and promoted a company called Chong Glass/Nice Dreams, which was started by his son Paris.
He accepted a plea deal in exchange for the non-prosecution of his wife and Paris. He was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and served his time at the Taft Correctional Institution in Kern County, California.
“I think it was a combination of the food and the prison itself in Taft, California, is built over a toxic waste dump,” he said.
Chong also said he does not smoke marijuana anymore and quit a year ago for “health reasons.” Instead, he will ingest hemp oil “at night so I won’t be woozy all day.”
