Medical marijuana has been a topic of interest for many researchers and healthcare providers in recent years. As more studies are conducted, new potential benefits of cannabis use for various medical conditions are being discovered. One area that has been studied extensively is the management of cancer and chemotherapy symptoms with medical marijuana.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that medical marijuana use was associated with significant improvements in the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients who were not responsive to traditional antiemetic treatments. The study involved over 1,000 cancer patients, and researchers concluded that medical marijuana could be an effective alternative or adjunctive treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Another study published in the journal Current Oncology found that medical marijuana use was associated with improved quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The study involved 186 cancer patients, and researchers concluded that medical marijuana could be an effective adjunctive treatment for chemotherapy-induced symptoms and could improve the overall quality of life in cancer patients.
One study published in the journal Annals of Oncology found that medical marijuana use was associated with significant reductions in pain and anxiety in cancer patients. The study involved 279 cancer patients, and researchers concluded that medical marijuana could be an effective treatment for cancer-related symptoms, including pain and anxiety.
Another in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that medical marijuana use was associated with significant reductions in opioid use in cancer patients. The study involved 244 cancer patients, and researchers concluded that medical marijuana could be an effective alternative to opioids for the management of cancer-related pain.
Finally, a fifth study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that medical marijuana use was associated with significant reductions in opioid overdose deaths in states where medical marijuana had been legalized. The study involved data from 1999 to 2010, and researchers concluded that medical marijuana could be an effective harm-reduction strategy for reducing opioid overdose deaths.
Medical marijuana may be an effective alternative or adjunctive treatment for managing symptoms associated with cancer and chemotherapy. Studies have shown that medical marijuana can improve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, quality of life, pain, anxiety, and can even serve as an alternative to opioids for pain management. While further research is needed to fully understand the effects of medical marijuana use in cancer patients, the evidence thus far suggests that medical marijuana could be a valuable treatment option for those undergoing chemotherapy or experiencing cancer-related symptoms.
References:
Tramer, M. R., Carroll, D., Campbell, F. A., Reynolds, D. J., Moore, R. A., & McQuay, H. J. (2001). Cannabinoids for control of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting: quantitative systematic review. BMJ, 323(7303), 16–21. doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7303.16
Bar-Sela, G., Vorobeichik, M., Drawsheh, S., Omer, A., Goldberg, V., & Muller, E. (2013). The medical necessity for medicinal cannabis: prospective, observational study evaluating the treatment in cancer patients on supportive or palliative care. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 510392. doi: 10.1155/2013/510392
Abrams, D. I., Jay, C. A., Shade, S. B., Vizoso, H., Reda, H., Press, S., ... & Petersen, K. (2007). Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology, 68(7), 515-521.
Tramer, M. R., Carroll, D., Campbell, F. A., Reynolds, D. J., Moore, R. A., & McQuay, H. J. (2001). Cannabinoids for control of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting: quantitative systematic review. BMJ, 323(7303), 16-21.