CAN MARIJUANA SLOW THE GROWTH OF CANCER?

Q: What is it about marijuana that slows the spread of breast cancer?
It sounds far-fetched. Is there anything to it?

A: You probably heard about a study from California showing that a
substance in marijuana appears to turn off the activity of a gene that
promotes the spread of breast cancer cells. But don't assume that you
can get enough of it from smoking marijuana to have this effect.

The compound is cannabidiol (CBD). In the study at California Pacific
Medical Center Research Institute, CBD inhibited the activity of a
gene called Id-1, which the researchers think is responsible for
metastasis--the process by which cancer cells spread from the original
tumour to other sites in the body. Id-1 genes are involved in
development of the human embryo, but then go on "hold" and stay that
way unless cancer develops. Then, they can become active and trigger
the spread of the disease.

In addition to its ability to block the activity of Id-1 genes, the
marijuana compound is said to be far less toxic than the drugs now
used for cancer treatment, and therefore may be better tolerated than
chemotherapy and, perhaps, radiation therapy. And, no, it doesn't have
the psychoactive effects of marijuana itself: if it is ever used on
patients, they won't get high.

Much more research remains to be done before CBD could be used to
treat breast cancer. So far, studies have been done only in the lab.
CBD has yet to be tested against any type of animal or human breast
cancer. While these findings are interesting, they're very
preliminary.

Dr. Andrew weil is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for
Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. He is an
internationally recognized expert on medicinal plants, alternative
medicine and the reform of medical education. Readers who wish to ask
Dr. Weil a question may do so by visiting drweil.com.