Travis Barker Says Precancer Diagnosis Led Him to Quit Cannabis

Barker, 50, said he quit smoking marijuana after a doctor told him he had precancer of the esophagus. He described the diagnosis during the November 11 installment of Kid Cudi's Big Bro podcast, saying he had smoked heavily and would not have stopped without the warning.

At the time, Barker said, he was smoking 10 to 15 blunts a day. His doctor characterized the condition as a serious warning and told him to stop. Barker said he still misses smoking, but has redirected the urge into running.

Barker said running became more important to him than smoking and has helped him stay sober from drugs. He took up the habit after a near-fatal plane crash in 2008, which he has also described as a turning point in his past opioid addiction. He called running a form of therapy, saying he runs a couple of miles a day.