There are finally scientific answers for the legendary concept of medical marijuana. The study was performed at Harvard University almost 10 years from now!
All over the United States, there have been debates on whether Marijuana should be legal for medicinal or recreational purposes. Studies have found that THC, the primary chemical in Marijuana can reduce the size of or eliminate cancerous tumors! Marijuana is the most common name for Cannabis. Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporizing, in food, or as an extract.
The study on medical marijuana was done at Harvard University in 2007. They tested the main chemical in marijuana, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) on cancerous cells in mice. The demonstration showed that certain doses of THC reduced or eliminated the growth of and spread of cancer cells. Anju Preet, Ph.D., lead researcher, says that “When the cells are pretreated with THC, they have less EGFR stimulated invasion as measured by various in-vitro assays”. The results truly are astonishing. It makes you wonder why we aren’t using this for modern day cancer treatment, rather than the poisonous Chemotherapy.
The lab rats in the study were implanted with cells of human lung cancer, were dosed with THC. They found that in three weeks time, the tumors were reduced in both size and weight! Not only were they reduced, but they were reduced by 50%! According to Preet, cancer lesions on the lung were also reduced by nearly 60%, and there was a remarkable reduction in protein markers, which are associated with cancer progression.
Researchers predict that THC had such a positive effect on the tumors because it activates the molecules that arrest the cell cycle. They say this might also interfere with the processes of angiogenesis and vascularization. These processes are what leads to cancer. Cannabis has a significant effect on cancer and should be further researched. This is one of the most important study releases about cannabis to today’s date, and the study was performed almost 7 years ago! Hopefully, we will find out more soon.