Marijuana Compound Slows Tumor Growth

New research suggests
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — the
main psychoactive ingredient in
marijuana — works to slow tumor growth.
Previous studies have demonstrated such
effects in lab experiments involving mice
with brain tumors, but researchers say
the newest research isolates the tumor-
shrinking mechanism. The latest study
involved mice featuring tumors grown
from human chest cancer cells.
When tumors were exposed to THC they
once again shrank and eventually died.
But researchers were able to discern
where the anti-cancer action was
happening, the CB2 and GPR55
receptors.
“By identifying the receptors involved we
have provided an important step
towards the future development of
therapeutics that can take advantage of
the interactions we have discovered to
reduce tumor growth,” said Peter
McCormick, a researcher at the
University of East Anglia’s School of
Pharmacy and author of the new study,
published this week in the Journal of
Biological Chemistry.
McCormick says these revelations don’t
mean cancer patients should start
smoking pot.
“Our research uses an isolated chemical
compound and using the correct
concentration is vital,” McCormick
added. “Cancer patients should not use
cannabis to self-medicate, but I hope
that our research will lead to a safe
synthetic equivalent being available in
the future.”
The federal government still classifies
marijuana as a dangerous drug — on
par with heroin and LSD — with “no
currently accepted medical use.”