The U.S. Department of Health has released findings confirming that cannabis can kill and inhibit the growth of cancer cells in mice and rats.
The National Cancer Institute’s website states that ”laboratory and animal studies have shown that cannabinoids (the active ingredient in cannabis) may be able to kill cancer cells while protecting normal cells.”
“They may inhibit tumour growth by causing cell death, blocking cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by tumours to grow.”
The institute’s experiments on rodents show that cannabinoids can reduce the risk of colon, liver and breast cancer, and could potentially render chemotherapy treatments more effective.
Researchers cautioned that there is not yet any evidence that such treatments would be effective for humans.
The Cancer Research charity reacted similarly, noting that “There isn’t enough reliable evidence to prove that cannabinoids, whether natural or synthetic, can effectively treat cancer in patients, although research is ongoing around the world.”
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Photo Credit: Brett Levin