Medical expert of the article
New publications
Hemp can help treat an aggressive form of brain cancer
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
A research team at a London university has found that cannabis has a strong effect on aggressive forms of brain cancer.
During the experiments, specialists found that the maximum therapeutic effect is achieved by complex therapy, which combines radiation therapy for cancer and the use of active chemical components of cannabis.
In the course of the research, the scientists studied the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on a brain tumor in combination with radiation therapy. The tumor (glioma, the most difficult to treat with anti-cancer therapy) was treated using three methods: treatment with plant compounds, radiation therapy, and a combination of the two treatment methods.
The most positive results were recorded in the third group, where complex treatment was carried out. In this group, the size of the neoplasm significantly decreased, and in some cases completely disappeared (experiments were carried out on laboratory animals).
Scientists have long known about the beneficial properties of cannabis; for example, a spray is already being used to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, as well as a drug that helps reduce the side effects of anti-cancer therapy.
There are more than 80 cannabinoids that bind to unique cell receptors and receive external signals, as a result, the receptors tell the cells what to do via a signaling pathway. Cannabinoids destroy cancer cells by changing the signaling pathway inside the cell.
It is worth noting that smoking cannabis has a negative effect on the mental state, as well as the work of the heart and the vascular system. The active component of the plant is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
There is an opinion that smoking narcotic cigarettes helps to enhance creativity, allows to think more originally, however, at the Leiden Academy in the Netherlands, experts have refuted this widespread view. In the course of their study, they studied the effect of cannabis on human creativity. People who smoked marijuana took part in the experiment. In total, the experts created three groups with an equal number of participants, in the first group, participants received high doses of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (22 mg), in the second - a low dose (5.5 mg), in the third group a placebo was used.
The dosage of the participants in the first group was approximately equal to three narcotic cigarettes, in the second group – one cigarette.
In the experiment, an inhaler was used to administer the drug, after which the participants performed certain tasks that helped specialists evaluate convergent (the ability to find one option in strictly defined conditions, i.e. solving a problem using a previously learned algorithm) and divergent thinking (the ability to find different solutions to one problem).
As a result, the specialists found that in the group that received low doses of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and took a placebo, the participants coped well with the tasks, but the solutions were not creative. When using high doses of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the ability to find multiple solutions in the participants decreased.
Experts have concluded that smoking cannabis does not increase a person's creative potential, so other methods must be found to solve the problem of creative crisis.
[