Last Updated on October 4, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media page published a viral video claiming that cannabis can kill cancer cells. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Half True.
The Claim
A broadcasting and media production Facebook Page named The Mike Wise Show published a video titled, “Cannabis Kills Cancer Cells Without Damaging Healthy Ones!”. A video suggests the benefits of the Cannabis sativa plant along with its ability to kill cancer cells.
Fact Check
What is cannabis?
Cannabis is a cannabinoid drug that comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. Cannabis is a psychoactive drug widely known as marijuana used for recreational and medicinal purposes.
Can Cannabis cure cancer?
No clear evidence. Cannabis has shown some promising anti-Cancer properties in laboratory research, however there is no concrete evidence of it being able to cure Cancer in clinical research.
A study done in 1975 and another study done on mice in 2016 established the anticarcinogenic behaviours of Cannabis. Both studies suggested that Cannabis can inhibit the growth of Cancer cells.
Cannabis consists of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can reduce cancer symptoms to improve the quality of life to a certain extent. A study has shown that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) stimulates neurons and the brain to reduce cancer symptoms. Another study has shown that cannabidiol (CBD) also works like THC to treat pain, insomnia, anxiety, and depression during palliative care.
A 2021 study suggests that cannabis has the potential of reducing cancer cells and protecting normal colon cells at the same time.
However, more human clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of cannabis against cancer. Factors such as cannabis being banned in most countries, limited access to quality plants and a wide variety of cannabis prohibit further research globally. THIP Media has also factchecked that cancer cannot naturally disappear by quitting sugar.