Marijuana can kill cancer cells, says US department of health

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In a new study funded by the United States government, researchers from The National Cancer Institute have found that cannabis can kill cancer cells while protecting the non-cancer ones.

According to Food World News, the research was done by scientists from London's St. George's University and originally commissioned by the US government to prove that marijuana is not an accepted medical substance.

The study revealed that two cannabinoids, the active ingredients in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) killed cancer cells while blocking cell growth and development of blood vessels needed for tumor growth.

According to the report by Telegraph, the tests were carried out in the laboratory using mice. The mice model studies revealed that the cannabinoids may reduce the risk of developing breast, colon and liver cancer and could help the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment in patients.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) wrote on their website, Cancer.gov, to update their findings on the cannabis.

"Laboratory and animal studies have shown that cannabinoids (the active ingredient in cannabis) may be able to kill cancer cells while protecting normal cells," the US agency wrote. "They may inhibit tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by tumours to grow."

However, Snopes reports that while the NCI has acknowledged that cannabis can be used to kill cancer cells in rodents, they explained that they do not recommend or condone marijuana as an effective treatment for cancer and management of its symptoms.

"There is not enough evidence to recommend that patients inhale or ingest Cannabis as a treatment for cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer therapy," the NCI wrote. The same could be said coming for the US Food and Drug Administration, according to the website.

Snopes noted that that NCI's renewed statement about cannabis is based on animal clinical studies alone and that cannabis and cannabinoids have been researched in real human clinical trials.

In the report by Telegraph, The Cancer Research charity released a statement through a spokesman saying that cannabis hasn't been proven to effectively treat cancer. The organization also warned cancer patients to stay away from people peddling cannabis treatments.

"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," the spokesman said according to the report.