Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines
Since its discovery, cancer in its many forms has been a continuous plague on humanity. There is no cure, and the known treatments are often unsuccessful or too damaging to the patient to be considered for long-term use. Currently, radiation and chemotherapy are used most often, though there is scientific consideration being put toward genetic engineering for use in the future. Presently, however, the scientific community and the population at large wonder if other, herbal remedies might be of service to those suffering from cancer. Now that medicinal cannabis, as well as recreational cannabis, has been legalized in several states, the people want to know if there is hope for themselves or their loved ones in this calming plant.
There are three primary stances on medicinal marijuana and cancer. Some think it heals, some think it harms, and some believe it helps some side effects of cancer without stopping the disease itself. Though the medical community was skeptical, many studies were conducted to test whether medicinal marijuana was able to cure cancer. According to Craig Reinarman and his associates, it was found that nearly 30% of the medicinal cannabis users in California in the year 2010 were suffering from cancer . In a conducted one year later and published in Critical Reviews of Oncology/Hematology, stage three and four lymphoma patients, as a part of a double-blind study, had THC inserted into their treatment. Researchers found that the THC made no differences in the rate of which cancer cells metastasized, or the progression of the stages of cancer. However, they did find that patients in the study who used THC, or medicinal marijuana, as part of their treatment experienced a greater appetite, less pain, and felt stronger even toward the end of their treatment .
Despite these positive findings, there are some who believe marijuana, or the inhalation of any substance, will damage the body. A 40-year cohort study conducted by Russel C. Callghan and associates was performed to specify any truth to this claim. The study recognized that marijuana smoke contained carcinogens, much like cigarette smoke, and aimed to understand if smoking marijuana could cause lung cancer in an effort to understand if any benefits outweighed the risks. Nearly 50,000 18-20-year-old men were studied in Sweden from 1970-2009 . Of the 50,000, 10% claimed regular use of the drug, while 1.5% was heavy users. It was conclusive that heavy cannabis users increased their chances of lung cancer by 50% over the course of forty years. The finding was a heavy blow to those who believed medicinal marijuana could cure cancer, because there was now proof that heavy use caused it. However, those who believed that marijuana still could benefit those with cancer argued that it did not have to be smoked, and it did not have to be used heavily in order to glean the benefits.
The third group of people with an opinion toward medicinal marijuana and cancer do not believe that it can cure cancer, but they do not believe that marijuana itself causes cancer. They accept the smoke contains carcinogens, but are aware of edibles, as well as the idea that it does not take what is considered “heavy” drug use to allow the drug to help those who are sick . These individuals believe in the evidence that emerged in studies concerning a cure for cancer: that marijuana can help patients with the side effects to the disease, as well as the treatment. More studies were conducted to help prove or disprove these theories. Franjo Gotenheran and Kirsten Vahl-Muller, for example, found conclusively that cannabis could be used as a medication if the body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors were activated . Because of this finding, many European countries began manufacturing THC based drugs that treated everything from multiple sclerosis to nausea. Treating nausea would be beneficial when treating cancer because it is a primary side effect of the radiation and chemotherapy.
Another study, performed by Alexandra Theilmann and Paul J. Daininick sought to understand whether marijuana would be more helpful or harmful to a cancer patient . The studies found, as previously observed, that THC increased the appetite of patients despite the harsh treatment they were undergoing. A growing appetite allowed 22% of the participants to keep their strength longer than the 100% of the patients who were not being given medicinal marijuana. The patients using medicinal marijuana and, subsequently, gaining a larger appetite, showed a 20% greater chance at surviving treatment than those not using medicinal marijuana . Medical marijuana did not cure the cancer, but it did help the participants fight it. Studies concerning cancer patients and pain were also conducted and though patients did experience some relief, it was found that those suffering from chronic pain without cancer were more apt to see results from the use of medicinal marijuana, according to Mary E. Lynch and Fiona Campbell .
In sum, those who believe that medicinal marijuana cures cancer are wrong. Those who believe medicinal marijuana causes cancer are only partially correct. It does cause cancer when smoked, but only when the individual is heavy user. Heavy use is characterized by using the drug several times a week. Those who are correct believe the drug does not cause inherent harm, nor does it cure anything; it only helps the subsequent side effects of a preexisting condition. Marijuana can help ease a cancer patient’s pain, but it can also give them an appetite. This, in turn, can give them a better chance at survival. Medicinal marijuana and other THC based medicines available in Europe also help quell nausea, often brought on by cancer treatments. Medicinal marijuana is not the miracle drug that some may like to think it is, nor is it as evil as some make it out to be. However, it can help patients in some regards if we allow it to do so.
References
Bostwick, M. J. (2012). Blurred Boundaries: The Therapeutics and Politics of Medical Marijuana. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 172-186.
Bowles, D. W., O'Bryant, C. L., Cambridge, D. R., & Jimeno, A. (2012). The intersection between cannabis and cancer in the United States. Critical Reviews of Oncology/Hematology, 1-10.
Callghan, R. C., Allebeck, P., & Sidorchuk, A. (2013). Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: a 40-year cohort study. Cancer Causes and Control, 1811-1820.
Gotenheran, F., & Muller-Vahl, K. (2012). The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 495-501.
Lynch, M. E., & Campbell, F. (2011). Cannabinoids for treatment of chronic non-cancer pain; a systematic review of randomized trials. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 735-744. ----
Reinarman, C., Nunberg, H., Lanthier, F., & Heddleston, T. (2011). Who Are Medical Marijuana Patients? Population Characteristics from Nine California Assessment Clinics. Journal of Psychoative Drugs, 128-135.
Theilmann, A., & Daeninick, P. J. (2013). Medical marijuana in cancer: harmful or harm reduction? Clinical Practice, 371-381.
