Cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana, has been used both medicinally and recreationally for thousands of years, its use as a medicine.
The medical community and some state governments, including New York, now recognize cannabis as a treatment for some cancer-related symptoms, such as poor appetite, pain, and nausea. However, the drug remains illegal at the federal level, and this confusing combination puts doctors into cannabis and patients who use it in uncharted territory.
Does cannabis cure cancer?
Many patients come to me hoping that cannabis can cure their pain, nausea, loss of appetite, or even cancer. Unfortunately, there is a lot of information online about medical marijuana as a natural cure for cancer. These websites post testimonials and cite "successful research" to claim that cannabis can kill cancer cells without any side effects.
It is understandable that when patients and families feel powerless in the face of a life-threatening illness, they would seek hope in any new treatment available. Despite the fact that you may have read on the Internet or heard from a friend, cannabis is not a cure for cancer.
We have no scientific-based evidence to show that cannabis has any beneficial effects on cancer cells or tumors. If this was really the miracle cure we were looking for, doctors around the world would give hemp oil to every cancer patient. It's possible that cannabis may have potentially unknown cancer benefits, but more studies are needed to determine what these are.
Know more about Cannabis medicine and Cannabis oil capsules.
Can a cancer patient benefit from cannabis consumption?
Medical cannabis can be used to reduce some of the symptoms and treatment of cancer. Studies have shown that medical marijuana can help reduce symptoms such as pain, nausea, and loss of appetite, and we see cases where medical marijuana can help patients cope with these cancer-related symptoms. In my opinion, cannabis does a better job of improving appetite and reducing nausea than alleviating cancer-related pain.
How does a patient get medical cannabis?
To obtain cannabis, an eligible patient must be certified by the New York State Medical Marijuana Program by a registered physician. We have physicians registered in our supportive and palliative care program in Roswell Park, and we follow state guidelines when certifying patients. Patients must have qualifying conditions and at least one symptom that cannot be controlled using any other available FDA-approved treatment.
What type of cannabis is available to cancer patients?
Cannabis can be used in many ways. It can be taken by mouth, as in an oil tincture placed under the tongue. It takes longer for the body to absorb cannabis in this way, but the effects last longer. Cannabis can also be inhaled or vaporized for a fast-acting but short-term effect. Many different formulations of cannabis are based on the ratio of THC to cannabidiol (CBD), another active chemical in medical cannabis, and this ratio determines what effect the drug will have.
We can recommend a certain formulation for our patients, but the dispensary controls the type and amount of cannabis they receive. We follow up with our patients after they are prescribed cannabis at the dispensary because I have seen some cases where patients take too much cannabis or too high a dosage, which is not only expensive but also dangerous. We have to practice keeping in mind the safety of our patients.
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