What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is the dried buds and leaves of the cannabis Sativa plant used in herbal remedies for centuries. While recreational marijuana may not be legal, there are many states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal uses like cancer. Medicinal marijuana can be helpful to cancer patients to treat side effects like nausea, vomiting, and neurological pain from chemotherapy.
Can Inhaling Help?
Inhaling marijuana helps to treat neuropathic pain caused by damaged nerves. THC and other cannabinoids like cannabidiol that slow growth and/or cause death in certain types of cancer cells. While marijuana can help treat cancer, it cannot cure it so it is important to not rely only on marijuana to treat your cancer but to listen to your doctor about all of your options. There are two chemically pure drugs based on compounds of marijuana like Dronabinol, which is a gelatin capsule that contains THC. It is approved by the FDA to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid that acts like THC taken by mouth for nausea or vomiting which other drugs do not work.
Medicinal Marijuana Helps With Chemotherapy Side Effects
While marijuana can help with chemotherapy side effects, the drug itself has side effects such as increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting. You can feel drowsy or a high that makes you uncomfortable. They can worsen depression, mania, or other mental illnesses. Other symptoms can include dry mouth and recent memory problems. If you already have emotional illnesses, paranoia, and hallucinations, marijuana can make those symptoms worse. It is important to make sure you speak to your doctor if any negative side effects occur to determine what the best option is.
The American Cancer Society supports more research on cannabinoids for cancer patients and more therapies for the side effects of cancer and treatment. They do not have a position on legal marijuana for medicinal purposes. They believe more research needs to be done on the benefits and harm of marijuana. The American Cancer Society does oppose smoking or vaping marijuana and other cannabinoids in a public place since carcinogens have the potential to create health hazards to patients and those around them. It seems to be a tough issue when marijuana can be legal for one reason but then illegal for another. Marijuana can be a great source of treatment for those battling with the negative side effects of chemotherapy to help their recovery run smoothly.
Bayview Recovery Helps with Addiction
If you’re like millions of other Americans, you may struggle with addiction. If you want help with your addiction, come to Bayview Recovery. We offer a variety of addiction treatments, such as:
Located in Tacoma, Washington, Bayview Center’s mission is to offer clinically-driven programs and services to treat a number of substance abuse disorders along with anxiety and depression using cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical-behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, yoga therapy, and more for a successful recovery. For more information, please call us at 855.478.3650. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Dr. Dave Cundiff, MD, MPH (Medical Reviewer)
