Connect With Cannabis

Cannabis and cancer Could cannabis become a main-stream treatment for cancer?

Cynthia Mcmurray

Attitudes about cannabis are changing, albeit slowly. While recreational use of cannabis is legal as of yesterday, there is still an air of ‘taboo’ about this ancient plant. Much of this stems from the fact that it has been illegal in Canada since 1923 and was even classed as a Schedule 1 narcotic in the U.S. (Schedule 2 in Canada). Because of this, the research into the health bene ts has not been as widely researched as other plants and herbs.

With shifting attitudes about cannabis, however, that will undoubtedly change as more medical research is conducted into such things as the e ects of cannabis as a preventative and treatment for cancer.

Currently, there are relatively few large-scale studies on cannabis and cancer, but there are almost 70 good general studies on the subject. ese do not include the hundreds of studies on such things as cannabis and in ammation or oxidative stress for example, both of which are linked to cancer. ere are also a number of studies into the e ects of cannabis on pain and nausea, major symptoms experienced by cancer patients.

How does cannabis work?

Cannabis use dates back thousands of years. Hemp, which is derived from the cannabis plant, was widely used for its bre, as rope, food and even as a medicine. Cannabis contains compounds known as cannabinoids, which interact with your body through naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors that are embedded in cell membranes throughout your body.

Among other things, cannabis is proapoptotic, which essentially means it triggers cellular ‘suicide’ of harmful cancer cells without a ecting healthy cells. As an antiangiogenic, compounds in the

While more research is necessary, preliminary studies into the effects of cannabis for cancer are promising. 123rf cannabis plant also work to shut down the blood supply to tumours, which is why cannabis is being studied for its anti-tumour e ects.

e National Cancer Institute (NCI) speci cally recognizes a laboratory study of delta-9-thc, the main active cannabinoid in cannabis, on liver cancer cells. e study shows that this cannabinoid could successfully damage and even kill these cancer cells.

Some of the areas for which cannabis has been studied for cancer include brain, breast, liver, lung, lymphoma, head and neck, skin, colon and prostate cancers. One recent study also suggests that CBD (a speci c cannabinoid) from hemp may be helpful against ovarian cancer, even reducing metastasis (spreading to other organs) and slowing the growth of cancer cells better than a current cancer drug, Cisplatin.

Another study of CBD in estrogen receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells shows that CBD can also trigger cancer cell death in these cells and have little to no e ect on normal breast cells.

Cannabis has also been widely studied and used for pain and even seizure disorders.

What are some other potential e ects of cannabinoids?

e NCI has gone so far as to state that research shows cannabinoids may be able to do more than relieve cancer patients’ pain and in ammation. While additional research is ongoing and necessary, the NCI says cannabinoids may be able to block cell growth, referencing studies in mice and rats that have shown that cannabinoids may inhibit tumour growth by causing cell death, blocking cell growth and blocking the development of blood vessels that tumours need to grow. Since cancer is marked by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells, the potential for cannabinoids to block that growth is a signi cant bene t. In addition, the NCI cites laboratory and animal studies that have shown that cannabinoids may be able to kill cancer cells while actually protecting normal cells.

While the research for cancer prevention and treatment with cannabis is de nitely promising, more studies are necessary, especially now that the tide is turning with respect to public awareness and openness to the possibilities.