Cannabis, CBD oil and cancer

Cannabis is a plant and a class B drug. It affects people differently. It can make you feel relaxed and chilled. But it can also make you:

• feel sick

• affect your memory 

• make you feel lethargic

CBD oil is a chemical found in cannabis. 

Summary:

• Cannabis has been used for centuries recreationally and as a medicine.

• It is illegal to possess or supply cannabis as it is a class B drug in the UK.

• Research is looking at the substances in cannabis to see if it might help treat cancer.

• There are anti sickness medicines that contain man-made substances of cannabis.

What are cannabis and cannabinoids?

Cannabis is a plant. It is known by many names including:

• marijuana

• weed

• hemp

• grass

• pot

• dope

• ganja

• hash

The plant produces a resin that contains several substances or chemicals. These are called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids can have medicinal effects on the body.  The main cannabinoids are:

• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

• Cannabidiol (CBD)

THC is a psychoactive substance that can create a ‘high’ feeling. It can affect how your brain works, changing your mood and how you feel. 

CBD is a cannabinoid that may relieve pain, lower inflammation and decrease anxiety without the psychoactive ‘high’ effect of THC. 

Different types of cannabis have differing amounts of these and other chemicals in them. This means they can have different effects on the body. 

Cannabis is a class B drug in the UK. This means that it is illegal to have it, sell it or buy it.

Why people with cancer use it

Cannabis has been used medicinally and recreationally for hundreds of years. 

There has been a lot of interest into whether cannabinoids might be useful as a cancer treatment. The scientific research done so far has been laboratory research, with mixed results, so we do not know if cannabinoids can treat cancer in people. 

Results have shown that different cannabinoids can:

• cause cell death

• block cell growth

• stop the development of blood vessels – needed for tumours to grow

• reduce inflammation

• reduce the ability of cancers to spread

Scientists also discovered that cannabinoids can:

• sometimes encourage cancer cells to grow

• cause damage to blood vessels 

Cannabinoids have helped with sickness and pain in some people.

Medical cannabis

This means a cannabis based product used to relieve symptoms. Some cannabis based products are available on prescription as medicinal cannabis.

Only some specialist doctors can prescribe medical cannabis. And only for certain medical conditions. They might prescribe medical cannabis for:

• epilepsy - if you (or your child) have a rare form of epilepsy that might be helped by medical cannabis

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - if you have spasticity from MS and other treatments have not worked

• sickness or vomiting caused by chemotherapy - when other anti sickness medicines have not helped 

A prescription for medical cannabis is only given when it is believed to be in your best interests. And when other treatments have not worked or are not suitable.

The following medicines are sometimes prescribed to help relieve symptoms.

Nabilone (Cesamet)

Nabilone is a drug developed from cannabis. It is licensed for treating severe sickness from chemotherapy that is not controlled by other anti sickness drugs. It is a capsule that you swallow whole.

Sativex (Nabiximols)

Sativex is a cannabis-based medicine. It is licensed in the UK for people with Multiple Sclerosis muscle spasticity that hasn’t improved with other treatments. Sativex is a liquid that you spray into your mouth.

Researchers are looking into Sativex as a treatment for cancer related symptoms and for certain types of cancer.

More information

 The science blog on our website has more information about cannabis and cancer.  

Go to the science blog