Tommy Chong reveals 'pain in the butt' battle with rectal cancer
'I now have to use more marijuana,' quipped the Canadian-born Cheech & Chong comedian
Tommy Chong, the bearded Canadian-born actor best known as one half of the marijuana-loving comedy duo Cheech & Chong, is still cracking jokes while revealing a battle with rectal cancer.
The 77-year-old, Edmonton-born comedian, who revealed his diagnosis to Us Weekly on Tuesday, said he was using pot as part of his treatment.
"I'm using cannabis like crazy now, more so than ever before," Chong told the magazine. "Either I get healed or I don't. But either way, I'm going to make sure I get a little edge off or put up."
Chong also shared some of his characteristic humour on Twitter.
I have good news and bad news. First the bad news, the cancer came back and it's a real pain in the butt.
—@tommychongThe good news is I now have to use more marijuana to treat the cancer.
—@tommychongOutspoken activist
Chong was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012. He told CNN at the time that he was using cannabis, via hemp oil, as a cure for the disease.
The iconic actor has also worked as an activist for the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana.
Supplying marijuana for medicinal use is already a well-established industry in Canada, but there is no evidence that it can cure cancer.
Chong shot to fame in a puff of pot smoke alongside comedic partner Cheech Marin.
Younger generations might know him best as the aging hippie Leo on Fox's That '70s Show.