More evidence is supporting the use of cannabis to combat cancer
Despite decades of attempts by certain companies at suppressing marijuana, the cat’s out of the bag, as it were. Several studies have already been able to positively suggest that cannabis could be a valuable tool in the fight against cancer and another study has concluded that further supports that earlier research. Specifically, cannabinoids are being shown to be an effective treatment to fight colorectal cancer.
The study was conducted by the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey. They tested “hundreds of cannabinoids” on different types of colorectal cancer cells and reached significant conclusions. Ten cannabinoids were able to completely stop cancer cell growth. Surprisingly, of the cannabinoids tested, neither tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) nor cannabidiol (CBD) had dramatic effects on the cells.
It has to be pointed out that the tests were conducted with synthetic cannabinoids. However, given scientists’ ability to recreate the DNA of cannabis, it is not unrealistic to conclude that the same results would be found with live cannabis.
Professor Kent E. Vrana, the chair of the university’s Department of Pharmacology, said about the tests, “Now that we’ve identified the compounds that we think have this activity, we can take these compounds and start trying to alter them to make them more potent against cancer cells. And then, eventually, we can explore the potential for using these compounds to develop drugs for treating cancer.”
Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer worldwide, according to the World Cancer Research Fund. Last year, it accounted for around 8% of all new cancer incidents reported in the U.S. It would be nice to be able to offer an all-natural treatment that not only works, but which doesn’t carry the horrible side effects and high costs associated with all other forms of cancer treatment.
