COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CANNABIS & CANCER In this column, our readers have the opportunity to ask our staff nurse anything they want to know about using cannabis plant medicine. She will provide quick and concise answers to big questions. In this issue, our focus is cancer and how cannabis interacts with the disease process. Medical marijuana is now available in 33 states and recreational marijuana is available in 11 states. This surge in legalization is leaving many newly-diagnosed patients with questions. In 2018, it was predicted that 1.7 million1 new diagnoses of cancer would be given. Receiving this news can be scary. The more the patient and family can be informed about their diagnosis, the better. Read below for some commonly asked questions about cancer and cannabis.
HOW DOES MARIJUANA HELP CANCER? Marijuana helps cancer by assisting with direct symptom relief. U.S. research has shown that the use of cannabis to relieve symptoms caused by chemotherapy is greatly effective. This is due to the antiemetic, or nausea-relieving capabilities of cannabis. THC has been licensed for palliative care as a pharmaceutical and is currently on the market for cancer patients in two drugs, Dronabinol2 and Nabilone. Both have been shown to be effective for nausea and vomiting. Cannabis can also elevate mood, assisting with anxiety and depression often felt by the patient. Pain relief is another positive effect felt from the use of cannabis plant medicine. According to a study done in 20163 by Dr. Abrams for Current Oncology, research showed that not only can cannabis assist with neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy, it can also prevent it. Proof that these symptoms can be managed with cannabis or cannabinoid therapy is huge for the medical community and patients alike.
WHICH CANNABIS STRAINS ARE BEST FOR CANCER? This can be a difficult question to answer due to the fact not all strains or cultivars are available in each state that has legalized plant medicine. Cultivars can be specific to an area or breeder. Stories have begun to surface from individuals that have used cannabis for their cancer treatments. These individuals are sharing success stories of what was effective for them on an individual basis. The results will not be the same for each individual due to the unique variances in the endocannabinoid system. Some prefer high THC strains, whereas others are using CBD only for relief. Other patients are choosing to use a hybrid cultivar of CBD and THC to assist with their symptoms. The term hybrid comes from the mixing of various genetic traits to make a blended strain of cannabis. The high-THC cultivar known as Northern Lights4 is at the top of the list for many patients thanks to its ability to provide relief from nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy treatments. CBD naturally assists with pain and inflammation. The CBD-rich
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