Marijuana, also referred to as cannabis, is used medicinally to treat a number of conditions, including cancer. Marijuana and its active chemical components such as THC have many properties that can benefit cancer patients. Little is known, however, about how marijuana interacts with other commonly prescribed drugs. Individuals interested in marijuana therapies should consult a health professional before using marijuana to treat symptoms of cancer.
Reduces Nausea
Nausea and loss of appetite are common side effects of chemotherapy and also symptoms of the late stages of cancer. The National Cancer Institute describes how synthetic THC or marijuana cigarettes may be used to treat nausea and loss of appetite associated with cancer. Inhalation of marijuana through smoke or vaporization may be a more effective method of use as it has a faster mode of action than orally administered marijuana extracts or synthetic THC. The NCI cautions that more research is needed to determine the optimum dose of marijuana that cancer patients should use to take advantage of the anti-emetic properties of the drug.
Reduces Tumor Size
A number of medical research studies reviewed by NORML.org demonstrate that marijuana can have anti-cancer properties. The effects of marijuana as an anti-tumor agent are particularly apparent in gliomas. Gliomas, or glioblastomas, are a rare, but very aggressive form of brain cancer that typically results in patient death within two years of onset. NORML.org reviewed studies that show that marijuana can reduce tumor size in glioma patients.
NORML.org also cites a number of studies that demonstrate anti-tumor effects of marijuana in a number of cancers including breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancers, lung cancer, cervical cancer and other cancers. Other studies reviewed by NORML.org show that when used in combination with certain chemotherapies, marijuana can increase the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs.
Reduces Pain
A 2010 multi-center, double-blind clinical study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management demonstrates that cannabis extracts significantly reduce pain associated with cancer in comparison to placebos. The authors of this study recommend that marijuana extracts containing both THC and CBD (two active chemical components of marijuana) can be used to treat pain in cancer patients who do not respond to typical prescription opioid class pain killers. THC and CBD may work in a synergistic manner to relieve pain and also reduce inflammation in ways that THC alone or prescription pain killers can not.
