Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is one of the many chemicals found in the cannabis plant. It has been promoted in some online forums as an alternative treatment to cure many diseases, including cancer. And some people with cancer say that CBD has helped them as a complementary therapy in managing their symptoms and side effects of standard cancer treatment.
However, there is very little research on CBD and its use in treating people with cancer. Here is what you need to know about what CBD is and what science currently shows about whether it is safe and effective for use by people with cancer.
What is CBD?
CBD is one of the hundreds of chemicals found in the flowering cannabis plant. It does not have the psychoactive or consciousness-altering effects of another chemical found in cannabis, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the chemical that makes people feel “high.” On the other hand, some people use it to help relieve pain, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Many types of CBD products are available in the market. Some of them look stylish. For example, finding custom CBD printed boxes on store shelves make you excited because there is some charm, style, and fun while using such products. However, all products do not have the same status, and the customers do not find excitement while buying.
CBD comes from cannabis plants called hemp, which is specifically grown with high levels of it and low levels of THC. Cannabis plants grown with high levels of THC are often referred to as marijuana. It comes from the oil that is extracted from the cannabis plant. This oil can then be ingested as a liquid, capsule, chewable gelatin, or inhaled by vaping. It can also be added as an ingredient in products such as lotions and skin patches.
There is a lot about CBD that is still unknown. It has largely remained unexplored because, until 2018, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considered it a Class I drug. A Class I drug is a drug that has been outlawed by the DEA due to safety concerns about its potential for abuse and because there is no accepted medical use for it. Then, in September 2018, the DEA upgraded the its category to a Class V drug. Class V drugs have less potential for abuse and are considered to have some medical use.
Currently, there is a CBD-based treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called Epidiolex. It is used to treat some rare and serious forms of epilepsy in children. There are currently no CBD-based drugs approved by the FDA to treat cancer or the side effects of cancer treatments.
Can CBD Help People with Cancer?
Studies are underway to answer this question. Some scientists are studying whether CBD could alleviate some of the side effects of cancer and its treatment, such as pain, insomnia, anxiety, or nausea. Other scientists are studying whether CBD could slow or stop cancer growth.
To date, no large-scale studies have shown CBD to have benefits for treating people with cancer. Many studies have been done to evaluate CBD as a cancer treatment. Previously, the experiences were done in mice or human cells in the laboratory.
For example, some studies have shown that CBD inhibits the growth of cancer cells in mice with lung cancer or colon cancer. Another study showed that CBD, along with THC, killed glioblastoma cancer cells in the laboratory. However, no studies have been done on people with cancer.
Some studies show that CBD, alone or together with THC, can relieve pain, insomnia, or anxiety, but these studies were not specific for people with cancer. Until today, no studies to date have shown that CBD facilitates these side effects specifically in people with cancer or in people receiving cancer treatment. However, some people with cancer have reported benefits from taking it, such as helping with nausea, vomiting, depression, and other side effects.
Your doctor may consider prescribing cannabinoids for chronic pain management if you live in a state where this is legal. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of cannabinoids to prevent nausea and vomiting in people with cancer receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
There are two synthetic cannabis medications, Nabilone (Cesamet) and Dronabinol (Marinol or Syndros) that are FDA approved to treat chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. These drugs are made in a laboratory.
Is CBD Safe for People with Cancer?
You can find stories online of people talking about the benefits of CBD as a cancer treatment or for the relief of side effects. Remember that these personal stories, although they may be well-intentioned, are shared without scientific studies and do not constitute evidence. The safety and efficacy for people with cancer have yet to be proven in large randomized controlled clinical trials.
It is also important to note that some studies have shown that CBD can interfere with the way your body processes anticancer drugs, which is called a drug interaction. It can make cancer treatments more toxic or less effective. More research is also needed on these effects. For these reasons, always inform your oncologist if you are considering using it before doing so.
You may also be wondering if CBD is legal in your area. Some states allow the sale and possession of cannabis, including CBD and THC, for medical and recreational use. Others have stricter regulations, so the state laws of each state should always be known before transporting CBD across state lines. Things are more complicated at the federal level.
In 2018, the US government recognized that hemp could be legally grown and manufactured as part of the Farm Law. Hemp can be used to make things like rope and clothing, in addition to CBD oil. In other words, hemp is no longer a controlled substance. It means that it is not regulated by the government. It also means that consumers should evaluate the safety and quality of CBD products themselves. Some types of CBD, for example, can have much higher levels of THC than stated on the label.
Bottom Line
always speak to your doctor first if you are thinking of using it. Because research does not yet support the use of CBD to help people with cancer, it is important to discuss this with your doctor before using it. Several ongoing clinical trials are studying the use of it in cancer care, and you and your oncologist can discuss the potential benefits and risks of participating in a research study to help find answers to some of the questions. Questions about CBD, including whether it can reduce side effects or improve quality of life.
