Cancer Health

While Queen Mary’s School of MedicineDr Wai Man Liu and researchers were studying the role of cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, in cancer therapy, theydiscovered the main active ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, has the potential to destroy leukemia cells and other cancer cells. Cannabis has beenwell-established and recognized as an effective treatment in the remedy for nausea caused by chemotherapy and as amedication for pain. The researchers, using highly sophisticated microarray technology were able to detect changes inmore than 18,000 genes in cells treated with THC, and were able to discover the existence of crucial processes throughwhich THC can kill cancer cells and potentially promote cancer patient survival.

Due to widespread illegaluse of cannabis as a recreational drug, its legal or licensed use in medicine is now a controversial issue in mostcountries. Currently, there are eleven states with effective medical marijuana laws on the books: Alaska, California,Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. However, the United Statesfederal government does not recognize any legitimate medical use, and state laws have been challenged.

DrLiu states, "It is important to stress that these cannabis-like substances used in research are far removed fromthe cannabis that is smoked. These novel compounds have been specifically designed to be free of the psychoactivefeatures, while maintaining anti-cancer action." Medical marijuana for nausea and pain is known to be administeredby smoking marijuana.