Researchers Claim to Find Cancer-Killing Cannabis Strain
Australian Research Team Finds CBD Strain that Kills Some Cancer Cells While Leaving Healthy Cells Alone – LPC
An Australian research team claims to have found a strain of cancer-killing cannabis. Cancer researcher Dr. Matt Dun of Newcastle University in Australia recently completed a three-year study. He claims that a modified strain of cannabis killed certain types of cancer cells. Equally significantly was the fact that the cancer-killing cannabis did not affect healthy cells.
Dr. Dun completed the study in partnership with Hunter Medical Research Institute and the Australian Natural Therapies Group (ANTG).
“ANTG wanted me to test it for cancer, so we used leukemia cells first and were really surprised at how sensitive they were,” Dr. Dun said. “At the same time, cannabis did not kill normal bone marrow cells or normal healthy (white blood cells).”
Great News, but…
Although news of a cancer-killing cannabis treatment sounds promising, there are at least a few troubling red flags. First, Newcastle University announced the news through a press release rather than a peer-reviewed medical journal. Second, the article does not mention explicitly enough (for the layperson reader) that these results are done in a lab, not a human test. That is a long way from being an accepted treatment. Third, there is no mention of releasing the details of the lab tests. Typically, these types of research projects provide detailed notes about method and specific results.
That’s not to say this is bad research. The press release does touch upon the need for duplicate testing and peer review. The fact that the research involved for-profit organizations may have pressed the need to release results through the media rather than a journal.
Cannabis is known to help with symptoms including chemotherapy-induced nausea. The Canadian Cancer Society also is cautiously optimistic that cannabis-derived drugs may be used as cancer treatments. However, they note, research is still in early days. The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) also calls for more research into cannabis treatments.
We are hopeful, but any earth-shattering news about a cancer-killing cannabis announced in this way should be taken with a grain of salt.
This editorial content from the LPC News Team provides analysis, insight, and perspective on current news articles. To read the source article this commentary is based upon, please click on the link below. Are you part of the legal cannabis industry in Canada? Add Your Listing and get found by your potential customers.
