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32 years
Many articles declared that marijuana if used for medical purpose has many and surprised benefit especially killing the radical cells that growth into cancers. Is that true?
Aug 25, 2014
2nd opinion

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Marijuana, or Cannabinoids, is a group of compounds produced uniquely by Cannabis species (e.g., Cannabis sativa L.) .Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive ingredient.
One study in mice and rats suggested that cannabinoids may confer protection against the development of certain types of tumors. This 2-year study tested the effects of various doses of THC given to mice and rats were given by gavage (tube inserted into the mouth or nose and goes into the stomach). A dose-related decrease in the incidence of liver tumors was observed in the mice. Decreased occurrences of benign tumors (polyps and adenomas) in other organs were also seen in the rats. In another study, this molecule and other similar molecules from the cannabis plant were found to inhibit the growth of lung carcinoma cells.
Cannabinoids exert their antitumor effects by various mechanisms, such as inducing cell death, inhibiting cell growth, and inhibiting of the formation of new blood vessels that nourish the tumor, thus not allowing tumors to invade into the blood and metastasize (go into other organs than the primary site of occurrence). Evidence in those studies showed that cannabinoids appear to destroy tumor cells without harming the normal cells, and may even protect those healthy cells from cell death.
Cannabidiol (CBD), another cannabis molecule, has been shown to enhance uptake of cytotoxic drugs into malignant cells thus promoting cancer cell death.
Of course, these are all experimental animal model or in vitro model data (experiments done o9n cell lines grown in special media); nothing is yet confirmed. More research is needed to fully elucidate the anti-cancer effects of cannabis.
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