Comedy duo Cheech & Chong have long been associated with pot.

Now Tommy Chong, 74, says he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and he's turning to cannabis to treat it.

He told CNN he first noticed symptoms about eight years ago while incarcerated for selling drug paraphernalia, but didn't get the diagnosis until "about a month ago."

He revealed his condition in an interview about his support for decriminalizing marijuana use and sales.

"I've got prostate cancer, and I'm treating it with hemp oil, with cannabis," Chong said, explaining that he doesn't smoke marijuana but ingests the hemp oil. "So (legalizing marijuana) means a lot more to me than just being able to smoke a joint without being arrested."

Chong described the cancer "as a slow stage one (that I've) had for a long time."