Researchers discover anticarcinogenic properties of medical marijuana

The beneficial qualities of medical marijuana have been known for quite some time now, but scientists have recently discovered that it might actually contribute to curing cancer itself in addition to managing the symptoms, thanks to its anticarcinogenic properties.

Indeed, a large meta-analysis of medical cannabis or marijuana has shown not just positive results in managing cancer-related symptoms like pain, appetite loss, and nausea but also in treating the disease as an anticarcinogenic agent, according to a report by Medical Xpress published on April 22.

Specifically, the study, published in Frontiers in Oncology, systematically examined more than 10,000 peer-reviewed research papers on cannabis and different health outcomes, discovering a strong agreement regarding its therapeutic use in the context of cancer.

Anticarcinogenic properties of cannabis

As it happens, cannabis contains several chemical compounds called cannabinoids, and the two most widely studied are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These cannabinoids interact with the chemical receptors in the human body’s endocannabinoid system.

This system regulates functions such as memory, emotional processing, sleep, and pain control, so the interaction with cannabinoids leads to positive therapeutic effects in terms of cancer treatment and symptom management, although there’s been a lack of unified understanding due to the broad and diverse nature of conducted research.

To address this issue and reach a cohesive conclusion about the therapeutic potential of cannabis, the researchers from the Whole Health Oncology Institute and the Chopra Foundation assembled a massive body of data, including randomized trials, observational research, and case reports, covering everything from easing chemotherapy side effects to investigating its role as a possible anticancer agent.

With the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing technology, they analyzed 39,767 data points related to cannabis and its health outcomes to perform sentiment evaluation and categorize opinions on the medical use of cannabis in cancer care.

The results were astounding  – there was an overwhelming consensus in favor of using medical cannabis to improve health, treat cancer, and manage cancer progression – with the support for it over 31 times stronger than that of non-supported sentiments, and over 36 times stronger than unclear sentiments.

Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Cambridge have figured out how a molecular machine in our mitochondria works – and how inhibiting its function can help with certain conditions, including cancer, as well as having a beneficial effect on – surprisingly – hair loss.