Tommy Chong Diagnosed With Cancer; 'Cheech And Chong' Star Treating Disease With Medical Marijuana

Tommy Chong, one half of the film comedy duo “Cheech and Chong,” has been diagnosed with rectal cancer. Not surprisingly, though, Chong, 77, a lifelong advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana, is using the drug to combat the effects of the disease.

US Weekly was the first to report that Chong is currently undergoing treatment for his second battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012.

"I've had some medical issues lately," Chong told the magazine during a recent party in Santa Monica, California. "I got diagnosed with rectal cancer."

Chong later confirmed the news in a cheeky tweet to his fans.

For the iconic stoner comic, medical marijuana is definitely a part of his treatment.

"I'm using cannabis like crazy now, more so than ever before," Chong told US Weekly. "I'm in treatment now. I've been — just the case either way, 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 previously battled prostate cancer after being diagnosed in 2012. At the time, he appeared on CNN to defend the use of medical marijuana in cancer treatment.

"I've got prostate cancer, and I'm treating it with hemp oil, with cannabis," Chong CNN’s Don Lemon in 2012. "So [legalizing marijuana] means a lot more to me than just being able to smoke a joint without being arrested... I'm taking it as a medicine.”

Chong’s philosophy has not changed. Earlier this month, the comic appeared at a Phoenix, Arizona, festival to promote the use of medical marijuana in treating illness.

"It makes you feel good. That's what medicine's supposed to do. Medicine is supposed to make you feel good," said Chong, according to Phoenix Fox News affiliate KSAZ. "Cannabis does it in such a way that it doesn't harm other parts of your body while you're doing it."

Chong also tweeted about his marijuana use in the wake of his diagnosis, promising to keep fans updated about his condition in his podcast with Cheech Marin.

Chong competed in the 2014 season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” becoming the oldest contestant to make it to the semi-finals. He does not currently have any announced film or television projects lined up and has spent much of the past year advocating for the decriminalization of marijuana.