Does Marijuana Have the Ability to Fight Leukemia?

Andrew Frawley

Professor Dempsey

ENGL 1200-20

Project 2: Blog 3

6 April 2014

Blog Three: Does  Marijuana Have the Ability to Fight Leukemia?

            The medicinal use of marijuana has been showed to supply many benefits to people suffering through a variety of different illnesses or diseases. Cancer patients have typically turned to marijuana as a way to relive some of the cancer-related pain and nausea associated with chemotherapy. The properties of cannabis not only provide extreme relief to these patients, but is beginning to gain popularity of how marijuana actually fights the disease of certain forms of cancer, one specific type being leukemia. Leukemia is a type of cancer that effects the blood or bone marrow, most often white blood cells, which are in the immune system and play a key role in defending the body from infections. The widespread medical properties of marijuana that influences its ability to fight leukemia has been attributed to the endocannabinoid system, which is the body’s natural cannabinoid system. Cannabinoid receptors have been found in most parts of the body, including where white blood cells are, which has given researchers evidence of marijuana’s role in treating leukemia. Chemotherapy is a method of treatment for a variety of different cancers, including leukemia. This therapy, however, becomes less effective when the disease spreads. Different studies have shown the positive effect THC, the element of cannabis that gives the person the high, has to fight cancer in human leukemia cell lines (Truth on Pot 1).  The ability of marijuana to fight leukemia is reflected through different factual evidence and case studies reflecting progress the treatment of medical marijuana has made for patients. The benefit associated with marijuana and how it has shown to be able to fight such drastic forms of cancer, like leukemia, gives light to its overall effectiveness as a valid medicine.  

            Cannabis, also known as marijuana, produces a resin containing compounds called cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are active chemicals found in marijuana that create drug-like effects throughout the body. This specific property of marijuana was viewed as a very influential factor in fighting leukemia, as well. One of the earliest studies used to document the effect of marijuana in fighting leukemia was published in 2002 by a team of researchers in Virginia. This study showed how THC, along with cannabinoids, was effective in inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in a variety of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines (Truth on Pot 1). The ability of medical properties found in marijuana to actually have an impact in killing these dangerous human cell lines provides some credibility for the overall analysis of whether or not marijuana can be considered a valid treatment. In addition to the ability cannabis has in fighting dangerous forms of cancer, like leukemia, the substance can bring other benefits to patients going through chemotherapy. If the disease has not spread, people with leukemia will most likely be put through chemotherapy, which comes along with a few side effects. One of the main effects people notice from going through the process of chemotherapy is nausea or vomiting, resulting most times with a loss of appetite (Common Chemo Side Effects 1). Marijuana has different properties that can help to alleviate these problems cancer patients have from therapy. According to a new study, the active ingredient in marijuana, called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), increases the appetite and improves the taste of food with advanced cancer patients. Statistical evidence show 73 percent of cancer patients who took THC pills every day for 18 days, which is the ingredient in cannabis that produces the high, reported an increased appreciation for food (Chan, Amanda). The main focus of discussion, however, is the properties and effects associated with marijuana that give it the ability to fight leukemia. One specific study published in 2005 by researches in the U.K showed that THC can begin to provide effects as early as six hours after administration as well as induce death in all three leukemia cell lines that were studied. This study gives light to the different mechanisms of marijuana to fight the cancer, showing how the effects of THC are independent from cannabinoid receptors (Truth on Pot 1). These specific studies give light to only a couple different pieces of credible evidence that exemplifies the ability marijuana has in fighting and treating leukemia.  

            Marijuana has other properties besides THC and cannabinoids that have a large impact on its ability to fight leukemia. Researchers have investigated the CBD property of cannabis, which is a non-psychoactive compound. Evidence shows in a study published in 2006 that CBD was able to kill cancer cells in both human leukemia cell and animal models (Truth on Pot 1). This particular study gives more evidence and knowledge of properties found in marijuana that have been able to kill leukemia cells. Dr. Wai Liu, an oncologist at St. George’s University of London conducted a study with 6 different non-psychoactive compounds of marijuana. These compounds are the properties of marijuana that do not cause the “high” associated with the THC ingredient. During this study, the cannabinoids seen displayed a “diverse range of therapeutic qualities” that “target and switch off” pathways that allow cancers to grow, Liu told U.S. News and World Report (Ferner, Matt). The conclusion of this study show the variety of benefits different compounds of marijuana have in not only be able to kill leukemia cells, but prevents the disease to continue to grow in certain areas. A variety of studies conducted to research the impact compounds and properties of marijuana play in its ability to fight leukemia gives more credibility to the use of cannabis as a valid treatment for patients suffering through this type of cancer.

Being told you have leukemia, or any type of cancer, would be a scary moment for anyone. The different forms of treatment associated with any type of cancer has a strong possibility of having side effects. Chemotherapy, Radiation, and other forms of Drug therapy can have negative physical effects associated, some dealing with heart problems or an impaired immune system. The problems associated with traditional forms of therapy for cancer provides more evidence to why marijuana is a better alternative. Despite the benefits marijuana has in treating patients with leukemia; like any other substance, have side effects that can be viewed as negative. When smoking marijuana, there is a possibility of lungs becoming irritant and respiratory infections when it is smoked frequently. Another negative effect marijuana can possibly have is how it can potentially slow down brain development (Drug Facts 1). These side effects, although are not good, do not stand up to the different physical problems associated with other traditional forms of treatment. Marijuana may have the ability to kill off leukemia cells by itself, but certain studies show an even more positive effect with the combination of both chemotherapy and medical marijuana to benefit these patients. A study published in 2008 found that THC could sensitize leukemia cells to chemotherapy agents, leading to higher rates of cell death than any treatment could achieve on its own (Truth on Pot 1). This study makes a proposal to the combination of both marijuana and the use of a traditional treatment, which can have the most impact in killing dangerous cells. The feature of marijuana to provide relief to the pain of chemotherapy and other treatments used on cancer patient can provide a better understanding of why this combination of treatments could actually supply the most benefits. Although both marijuana and traditional forms of medicine and marijuana do have side effects, the properties of marijuana that give it the ability to fight leukemia should not be taken discounted. The use of marijuana to treat this form of cancer has shown to make an overall large impact and the combination of both this substance and other traditional forms appear to be even better.  

The different chemical properties found in marijuana give proof of the impact they have in fighting leukemia. With the large amount of people dying from leukemia each year, there has to be experiments made to extend the possibility of using alternative treatments for this type of cancer. The effects of cannabis, through the breakdown of its compounds, prove to not only benefit cancer patients in general that are going through the harsh treatment of chemotherapy, but also have showed to actually fight the disease itself. The use of medical marijuana for patients with leukemia have been proven valid through case studies, along with the analysis of the drug’s properties. The legalization of marijuana for medical reasons would give more patients with leukemia the opportunity to gain the benefits of this treatment.

Works Cited

Chan, Amanda. Live Science. “Marijuana’s Active Ingredient Improves Cancer Patients’ Appetites.” 23 February 2011. <http://www.livescience.com/12956-marijuana-ingredient-improves-appetite-cancer-patients.html>.

Ferner, Matt. Huffington Post. “Marijuana Compounds Can Kill Some Cancer Cells: Study.” 25 October 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/25/marijuana-cancer_n_4158865.html>.

National Institute of Drug Abuse. Drug Facts: Marijuana. January 2014. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana>.

Truth on Pot. “Can Medical Marijuana Fight Leukemia?” 28 April 2013.

<http://www.truthonpot.com/2013/04/28/can-medical-marijuana-fight-leukemia/>.