Cannabis ‘Can Reduce Tumour Growth’, Expert Says

Marijuana is now used by cancer patients in some countries to ease the pain of their illness - but it might actually offer a cure.

Guillermo Velasco of the Complutense University of Madrid says there is evidence that cannabinoids - chemicals in cannabis - actually reduced tumour growth in animals.

But he says that there is little interest from pharmaceutical companies.

Velasco told Upworthy,, ‘One of the reasons why [it] is so complicated to promote clinical studies is that the active components of marijuana are natural products that cannot be patented and therefore there are few pharma companies interested in their clinical development.’

Earlier this year, the U.S. government admitted that the drug can shrink cancer cells in rodent studies.

In a page of official government advice, the U.S. government now says,, ‘Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory.’

The site says that the effect has so far been seen in rodent studies, and cautions,  ‘At this time, 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.’

Cancer Research UK warns patients that so far, there is no evidence that cannabis extracts can be used as a treatment.

Cancer Research says, ‘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.’