Study: cannabis concentrates can kill cancer cells

While cannabis is already used to relieve the pain associated with chemotherapy, in the future it could be used as a treatment for certain forms of cancer. Published in Cancer, the journal of the American Cancer Society, a new study has just shown that certain forms of cannabis can kill cancer cells.

The researchers tested the antitumor properties of 12 different cannabis extracts containing various combinations and concentrations of different cannabinoids, on 12 human cancer cell lines. The study concluded that some of the cannabis extracts tested were much more successful at reducing cancer cell growth than others. «Our results show that specific cannabis extracts altered the survival and proliferation of cancer cell lines, as well as the [cell death] of cancer cells,» reads the study.

Thus, different cannabis extracts appear to be particularly effective treatments for certain types of cancer, but less effective for others. Further studies are therefore needed to investigate the relationship between certain cannabis extracts and certain cancers.

Dr. Hattangadi-Gluth pointed out that «the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes has already been associated with a reduction in hospitalizations related to opioid dependence, suggesting that if patients substitute marijuana for opioids, this could present an opportunity to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality.».

Other studies have already demonstrated the effectiveness of cannabis in killing certain cancers. A study had shown in 2018 that purified cannabinoids prevent the proliferation and metastasis of colon cancer cells. Breast cancer research had also shown that CBD is effective in treating tumors. The ovarian cancer was also studied, with similar results. In 2015, the U.S. government also reported on apoptosis effects of cannabis.