- http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq
- http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq/#link/_13
- http://marijuanapolitics.com/cancer-gov-forgot-say-cannabis/
Cancer and Cannabis: Updates from NCI
The National Cancer Institute, or NCI, has recently updated language on their website recognizing the potential value of cannabis in treating cancer and related symptoms. This is the first time a government run organization has outwardly admitted that there’s evidence showing that cannabis and cannabinoids can be used to fight the disease. Before, there was nothing stating that research had been done on the anti-tumor possibilities of cannabis.
The NCI website states “The potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep. Although few relevant surveys of practice patterns exist, it appears that physicians caring for cancer patients in the United States who recommend medicinal Cannabis predominantly do so for symptom management.”
The NCI website also states that “Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory (see question 6).” “Question 6” is a page showing whether preclinical studies with cannabinoids had been conducted, and what they were conducted on.
While this may not make any quick changes to medical cannabis laws, it is a step in the right direction. We are looking forward to continued research to help scientists learn more about the medical benefits of marijuana for cancer patients.
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