Doctor Concludes: Marijuana For Brain Cancer Could Save Lives

Via Reset.Me; written by David Downs

Earlier this month, we helped break the news of another study confirming the potential for compounds in marijuana to treat an otherwise nearly untreatable form of brain cancer.

Now, Dr. Wai Lui, a Senior Research Fellow at St George’s, University of London, and lead researcher on a study describes his work in detail. Dr. Lui investigated the anti-cancer effects of a standardized cannabis extract called Sativex in glioma cells.

“The results are promising. There may be other applications but for now it could provide a way of breaking through glioma and saving more lives,” Lui concludes.

Pot’s two main active ingredients, THC and CBD, combined with irradiation “virtually” brought cancer growth to a stand still in cell and mouse trials. Natural cannabinoid extract worked better than lab-made THC.

“High-grade glioma is one of the most aggressive cancers in adult humans and long-term survival rates are very low as standard treatments for glioma remain largely unsuccessful,” according to researchers Katherine A. Scott, Angus G. Dalgleish, and Liu from the Oncology Department at St. George’s University of London.

The federal government lists cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Under the statute, in order for a drug to be classified as Schedule 1, there must be a finding that it has no medical value. Increasing scientific evidence to the contrary when it comes to cannabis, makes its place on Schedule 1 a veritable anomaly. However, 23 states have medical marijuana laws, and untold thousands of patients with untreatable gliomas are turning to cannabis not only for palliative treatment of chemo nausea and pain, but as an adjunctive therapy for treating the cancer itself.