Tommy Chong, the comedian best known for his “Cheech & Chong” movies and his recurring role on “That 70’s Show”, told CNN on Saturday that he’s currently living with stage one prostate cancer. The actor/musician/activist stated that he became aware of the symptoms during a stint in jail for selling drug paraphernalia, though he was only diagnosed about a month ago.
During an interview about the legalization of marijuana, Chong dropped a bombshell on his legions of fans. “I’ve got prostate cancer, and I’m treating it with hemp oil, with cannabis,” he explained. “So (legalizing marijuana) means a lot more to me than just being able to smoke a joint without being arrested.”
Chong also admitted that he hadn’t smoked marijuana in over a year due to health concerns. Since the actor feels that “cannabis is a cure”, he’s been attempting to treat his cancer with hemp oil every night. “I’m taking it as a medicine,” he said.
In addition to starring in seven “Cheech & Chong” movies — four of which he directed — Chong has also appeared in a few sitcoms and penned a pair of books. His 2007 effort “The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint” chronicles his life following his arrest in 2003, while the 2009 tome “Cheech & Chong: The Unauthorized Autobiography” takes a look at the comedic duo during their heyday as America’s favorite hippie stoners.
In 2008, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong reunited for a pair of successful tours, “Light Up America and Canada” and “The Felimony Tour,” thus ending the feud that began after the comedians went their separate ways in 1985.