Does Cannabis Cure Cancer?

Does cannabis cure cancer? You’ve surely heard this claim before.

Back when cannabis was still illegal, the notion that cannabis cures cancer was a big part of the legalization platform. The claim has almost become a meme, with skeptics usually citing it to make fun of “typical cannabis users”.

But where did this claim come from? Does it have any merit? And if it does, shouldn’t we be more focused on it?

Today, Chronic Haze seeks a definitive answer to the question: what effect does cannabis have on cancer? Let’s dive in.

How Does Cannabis Help With Cancer?

It’s well-established at this point that cannabis can help with the symptoms and side effects of both cancer and cancer therapy. As we already know, cannabis works as an appetite stimulant, as well as a sleep aid. On top of that, it also works as an antiemetic, meaning it prevents the nausea and vomiting that are typically associated with chemotherapy.

But one of the biggest ways cannabis can help cancer patients is how it deals with chronic pain caused by the illness. Cannabis can been shown to be effective for neuropathic pain, due to the effects of cannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Experts have verified each of these benefits through the use of smoked and oral cannabis products, as well as extracts. The effects of both delta-9-THC and CBD have proved to be useful. In fact, there are medications made from cannabis to help patients cope with the effects of cancer and chemotherapy. These include nabilone, dronabilnol, and nabiximols. These medications are synthetic analogs of THC.

So cannabis can definitely help patients deal with the effects of cancer and its treatment. But what about the claims of it being able to “cure” cancer? Are they true?

Can Cannabis Cure Cancer?

The short answer is this: we still aren’t sure about the benefits of cannabis on cancer cells. Researchers still don’t know enough about the effects of cannabis to be able to recommend it as a cancer cure.

A big part of this is due to the fact that many studies on the effects of cannabis on cancer cells are performed on animals. However, there is some promising research.

A 2021 study conducted in the UK on mice found that cannabinoids, either on their own or alongside other cancer treatments, had anti-tumour effects! These effects were present in both in vivo (in the body) and in vitro experiments (in test tubes).

However, it should be noted that these effects were dependent on certain factors, like cancer type, the targets’ cannabinoid receptors, and dose concentration. The doses here were quite high, meaning it takes a significant amount of cannabinoids to shrink tumour cells. These super high doses were also correlative with damage to blood cell vessels, and in some with cases with certain cancer growths. Suffice to say, there’s still progress to be made.

Fortunately, there’s been some development on this front. In 2021, the UK ran tests on a cannabis oral spray to assess its ability to treat brain tumours. Additionally, researchers have seen good results from a combination of highly-purified THC and CBD. They’ve also synthesized a molecule known as JWH-133, which has shown promising results.

There are many other studies seeking to learn more about the cancer-fighting qualities of cannabis as well. While there has been much headway, there’s still much to be learned. Hopefully, we’ll soon be able to see the benefits of cannabis-derived medicine.

Wanna Learn More?

If you’re looking for great cannabis and related products, stop by the Chronic Haze online store! We do same-day delivery and curbside pickup in select Ontario cities, so you can get your products faster.

Not within our main delivery zones? Not to worry! We do nationwide delivery all across Canada! If you’re looking to buy cannabis online, make an account with us and check out our selection today!

Also, since we’re already asking questions, here’s another: is it possible to OD on cannabis? Find out here!