Should Cannabis Become A Recognized Treatment For Cancer?
- revivefamilyhealing
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
A Naturopathic Doctor’s Perspective on Cannabis and Cancer Care
As a naturopathic physician deeply committed to evidence-informed, patient-centered care, I’ve watched the evolving research on cannabis in oncology with both curiosity and cautious optimism. For many cancer patients and their families, cannabis is not just a topic of curiosity — it’s a real part of their healing journey. Let’s explore what the science says about how cannabis might help cancer patients, what it doesn’t say, and how we can approach it safely.
What the Research Actually Shows
1. Cannabinoids Can Trigger Cancer Cell Death (Apoptosis)
In laboratory (in-vitro) studies, cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, CBG, and CBC have been shown to:
Activate programmed cell death in cancer cells
Disrupt mitochondrial function in malignant cells
Increase oxidative stress selectively in tumor cells
These effects have been observed in glioblastoma, breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic, melanoma, and leukemia cell lines.
2. Inhibition of Tumor Growth & Proliferation
Some studies demonstrate cannabinoids may:
Slow cancer cell replication
Arrest the cell cycle (preventing division)
Interfere with growth signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and mTOR
CBD in particular has drawn interest because it does not cause intoxication yet still influences these pathways.
3. Anti-Angiogenic Effects (Blocking Tumor Blood Supply)
Tumors need to form new blood vessels to grow — a process called angiogenesis.
Cannabinoids have been shown in animal models to:
Reduce VEGF signaling
Limit new blood vessel formation
“Starve” tumors of nutrients and oxygen
This mechanism overlaps with how some conventional anti-cancer drugs work.
4. Reduced Metastasis & Invasion
Several studies suggest cannabinoids may:
Decrease cancer cell migration
Reduce adhesion and invasion into surrounding tissues
Modulate enzymes like MMPs involved in metastasis
This has been observed in breast, lung, and brain cancer models.
5. Endocannabinoid System (ECS) Dysregulation in Cancer
Researchers have found:
Many cancers express altered CB1 and CB2 receptors
Tumor tissues often have upregulated endocannabinoid signaling
This suggests the ECS may play a role in cancer biology itself
Cannabis and Symptom Management: Where Evidence Is Strongest
Cannabis contains hundreds of biologically active compounds including cannabinoids and terpenes. Among these, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the most studied in clinical settings.
Easing Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
One of the most widely accepted medical uses of cannabis-related therapies is in the control of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. In fact, FDA-approved medications like dronabinol and nabilone (synthetic forms of THC) are prescribed specifically for this purpose when standard antiemetics fall short. CDC+1
Patients often tell me this translates into much more than “less nausea” — it can mean fewer hospital visits, better hydration, and a greater ability to maintain strength throughout treatment.
Supporting Appetite and Weight Stability
Cancer-associated anorexia and cachexia (severe weight loss) are devastating and difficult to treat. In small studies and anecdotal reports, THC-dominant preparations have helped some patients regain appetite or find pleasure in food again. This is more than comfort, it can support better nutritional status and resilience. Cancer.org
Pain and Anxiety
Pain and anxiety are deeply intertwined in cancer patients. Some systematic reviews suggest cannabinoids may meaningfully reduce pain and anxiety compared to baseline in clinical settings. PubMed
As a naturopath, I’ve seen patients report improved sleep, better emotional wellbeing, and less interference from pain in daily activities when cannabinoid therapy is guided responsibly.
Cannabinoids and Quality of Life
Beyond symptom scales on clinical studies, many cancer patients subjectively report that cannabis helps them feel “more in control” or better able to cope. Patient-reported outcome research reflects improvements in pain, stress, sleep, and mood — even when traditional treatments alone haven’t fully addressed these symptoms. Reddit
This isn’t a placebo effect — it’s a quality-of-life improvement that matters deeply when dealing with a chronic or life-altering illness.
The Importance of Individualized Care
Every cancer journey is unique, and cannabis isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. At Revive Clinics we consider:
Type and stage of cancer
Symptom burden
Drug interactions (THC and CBD can affect how other medications are processed)
Mental health history — THC can worsen anxiety or psychosis in some individuals
Method of use (edibles vs oils vs inhaled)
Safety is paramount, and a personalized plan ideally coordinated makes all the difference.
So what's missing and why isn’t cannabis already used as a potential treatment for cancer?
There are further clinical trials the Oncology industry would like to explore before encouraging cannabis, however, it is widely recognized that cannabis has unique properties that can augment treatment rather than be a replacement for conventional therapies. More human trials are desired but for now it is encouraging to watch the science of this medicine unfold.
Final Thoughts
The growing body of research gives us real reasons to be hopeful about the role of cannabis in cancer care — especially for symptom relief and improving quality of life. At the same time, the scientific community continues to explore its boundaries, mechanisms, and long-term effects with rigor and care.
For patients and families considering cannabis as part of their cancer care:
Ask detailed questions
Work with clinicians who understand both oncology and plant medicine
Monitor effects and adjust treatment plans
Prioritize safety and evidence-based guidance
Cannabis (or anything else) is not a magic bullet for healing cancer, but for many patients, it can be a powerful ally in the fight for health and wellbeing.
Resources:
Anticancer effects in bladder cancer cell linesTitle: Anticancer properties of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and synergistic effects with gemcitabine and cisplatin in bladder cancer cell lines — Journal of Cannabis Research (2023)Findings: Cannabinoids reduced cancer cell viability and showed synergistic effects with chemotherapeutics in vitro. SpringerLink
Cannflavin A + cannabinoids in bladder cancerTitle: Anti-cancer properties of cannflavin A and potential synergistic effects… — Journal of Cannabis Research (2022)Findings: Terpenes and flavonoids from cannabis combined with cannabinoids affected cancer cell survival in bladder models. SpringerLink
THC:CBD combination in pancreatic cancerTitle: Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of cannabinoids on human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma xenograft — Scientific Reports (2024)Findings: Cannabinoid combinations suppressed tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a mouse model. Nature
CBD against head and neck cancerTitle: Cannabidiol enhances cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drugs in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma — Scientific Reports (2020)Findings: CBD reduced cancer cell migration and enhanced chemo efficacy in cell and mouse models. Nature
Synergistic anti-tumor effects in breast cancer cellsTitle: Molecular anti-metastatic potential of CBD and THC… — Scientific Reports (2024)Findings: CBD/THC inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and induced cell death via apoptosis. Nature
Systematic review of clinical data & case reportsTitle: Cannabis as an Anticancer Agent: A Review of Clinical Data… — PubMed (2024 review)Summary: Reviewed hundreds of preclinical studies and case reports; concluded current clinical evidence is insufficient to claim cannabis cures cancer, but noted numerous preclinical anti-cancer observations. PubMed
Cannabidiol and other phytocannabinoids as cancer therapeuticsTitle: Cannabidiol and Other Phytocannabinoids as Cancer Therapeutics — PubMed (2022)Focus: Comprehensive overview of CBD, THC, and other phytocannabinoid activity against tumor cells, noting dose-dependent cytotoxic effects in laboratory models. PubMed
Cannabinoid receptor mechanisms & cancerTitle: Revealing the therapeutic potential of synthetic cannabinoids… — Journal of Cannabis Research (2025 review)Content: Reviews how cannabinoids and related compounds acting at CB1/CB2 receptors may influence cancer cell survival and proliferation across cell lines. SpringerLink
NCBI Bookshelf assessment of therapeutic effectsTitle: Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids — NCBI BookshelfSummary: Reviews preclinical evidence showing antitumor effects of cannabinoids in animal models — but highlights insufficient high-quality clinical data. NCBI
Cannabinoids in pediatric oncologyTitle: The Role of Cannabinoids as Anticancer Agents in Pediatric Oncology — PubMed (2021-2024)Scope: Review focused on mechanisms in childhood cancers, concluding evidence is still early and largely preclinical. PubMed
Cannabis oncology mechanisms & implicationsTitle: The Efficacy of Cannabis in Oncology Patient Care… — Cancers (MDPI)Summary: Outlines how cannabinoids might influence cell death, angiogenesis, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment. MDPI
Anti-cancer case report reviewsArticle types: Multiple case reports across cancer types (breast, CNS, leukemia, pancreatic).PubMed
“Anticancer properties of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol…” (bladder cancer) — Journal of Cannabis Research
“Cannabidiol enhances cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drugs…” — Scientific Reports
“Cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer” — PubMed
“Cannabidiol and other phytocannabinoids as cancer therapeutics” — PubMed review
“Therapeutic effects of cannabis and cannabinoids” — NCBI Bookshelf
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