Tommy Chong using pot to treat prostate cancer

Tommy Chong speaks during the California Rural Legal Assistance Teguino Celebration Gala on Feb. 9, 2009, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

/ Getty

(CBS News) Comedian-actor Tommy Chong has revealed he has prostate cancer.

Chong, part of the comedy duo "Cheech and Chong," told CNN on Saturday that doctors diagnosed him about a month ago.

Chong said his cancer is a "slow stage one" that he's had for "a long time. "

The marijuana-loving Chong announced the news in an interview about decriminalizing marijuana use and sales.

"I've got prostate cancer, and I'm treating it with hemp oil, with cannabis," Chong, 74, said. "So [legalizing marijuana]means a lot more to me than just being able to smoke a joint without being arrested."

Chong said he initially saw symptoms eight years ago, while he was behind bars for selling drug paraphernalia. During that period, he was drug-free for three years, he said.

"So I know it had nothing to do with cannabis," he told CNN. "Cannabis is a cure."

Chong said nowadays he doesn't smoke marijuana -- instead he ingests the hemp oil "at night, so I won't be woozy all day. I'm taking it as a medicine."

Chong and his acting partner, Cheech Marin, rose to fame in the early 1970s with a series of comedy albums, leading up to their 1978 film, "Up in Smoke." Chong had a recurring role on "That '70s Show," and last year voiced a part in the animated feature, "Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil."

[knowa2]

Why is Rick Simpson living in exile in Europe or why is Marc Emery in prison in Mississippi or why did Tommy do time, seem like some kind of political agenda by the DEA grasping for any kind of legitimacy for their fraud, They know they can't keep this scam of prohibition going for much longer all based on Lies.

[chongsuporter420]

good luck Tommy Chong.

[Transatlantique]

I'd like to have some of that hemp oil, I'm feeling a bit woozy from living in this ridiculously backward country. Tommy probably got cancer from the nasty prison swill that definitely isn't prostate friendly.

[rainbowbrew]

A lab in Spain did find that cannabis killed prostrate cancer cells. This is the same lab that duplicated a study embargoed by the DEA 30 years ago finding that cannabis killed brain cells. So go on and say it is an excuse for using. when the DEA lets research start up on cannabis and these things are realized I do not want any nay sayers using the drug, none because you think it is a hoax.

[Jaylah54100]

Why am I not surprised? Tommy Chong has been using pot to "treat" anything he thinks might have ailed him for decades.

[realtimecoffee]

And if at 74 he still gives a rat's ass, more power to him.

[drcbs]

Dave? Dave's not home.

[formerlyluvnut]

Totally like, awwwwsum dood!

[YoosAir]

"Hemp oil" doesn't make you "woozy." Of course, marijuana oil based infusions and extracts do.

Props to using the "H" word, though! Long live Tommy Chong!