Killing Cancer (Part B):
Cannabis and Cancer

This chapter is worth the price of admission. Many don’t know about the cancer-killing properties of Cannabis. It saved my life so I educated myself and am even more intrigued by the healing qualities of this medicinal plant, specifically as it relates to cancer. I present what I have learned in the context of the questions I’m most asked. Because of its federally illegal status (US), extensive scientific research is a challenge.

I do not profess to be ‘right’ as the absolute truth of so much is truly not known yet. I gathered valid scientific sources, compelling anecdotal success stories, and a list of resources to learn more. There are so many, I have chosen to focus on general health and cancer and breast cancer and list the links to many more. I encourage you to get a consultation from a cannabis oncology expert (some are listed below) and to talk to your doctor (although after reading this, you are likely to know more about Cannabis and Cancer than your doctor….give him/her a link to this! LOL).

  1. Is Cannabis good for my body?
  2. Does Cannabis kill cancer?
  3. What is the difference between different kinds of Cannabis?
  4. How do I take Cannabis for maximum healing benefits?
  5. Is Cannabis legal?
  6. Where do I get Cannabis?
  7. Will Cannabis will make estrogen+ cancer grow
  8. What if I don’t want to get high?
  9. How can I make my own medicinal Cannabis product?
  10. How can I learn more about the healing effects of Cannabis?

My relationship to Cannabis and Cancer

Recap: in 2012, I was not expected to walk again and given just weeks to live. I employed western medicine and an intensive naturopathic regimen and got through that, thinking they were wrong and that I would live a long life. A year later, they found 9 leptomeningeal brain tumors and gave me just weeks again. Western medicine didn’t offer much… I refused WBR (whole brain radiation) and the chemotherapy that crossed the blood-brain-barrier was highly toxic and shut my organs down.

The chemo injected into my CSF covered my body in a rash of itchy pustules. I read that Cannabis crosses the BBB and kills cancer so I took large amounts of CBD oil and did a couple of other naturopathic things and three weeks later, four of the nine tumors were gone without a trace. Because of CBD, I was then eligible for the less toxic and more effective targeted radiation on the remaining five tumors. I now take cannabis oil with both THC and CBD at night for maintenance. I have been NEAD since May, 2014.

#1: Is Cannabis good for my body?

To every beast of the earth and to every bird of the

heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth,

everything that has the breath of life, I have given

every green plant for food.            – Genesis 1:30

In Biblical times, people used ‘kanobos’ (Hebrew for hemp) in clothing, paper, cord, sails, fishnet, holy anointing and cooking oils, sealant, incense, food, and in ceremony, relaxation, and medicine. In Exodus 30:23, God dictates to Moses a recipe for a sacred anointing oil using ‘kaneh-bosm,’ widely thought to refer to Cannabis. Some claim that cannabis has been in use for over 10,000 years. Recorded medicinal use of Cannabis dates back at least to 2737 BC and Chinese Emperor Shen Neng, who prescribed it for various illnesses. A 2,700-year-old Chinese shaman’s grave recently excavated in the Gobi Desert yielded two pounds of marijuana placed next to the shaman’s head for his use in the afterlife. History shows medicinal use by Chinese, Japanese, Indian (Ayurvedic), and Egyptian cultures. Recent discoveries in medical research show Cannabis to be an effective medicine intertwined with our bodies’ health.

– A Brief History of Medical Cannabis

The EndoCannabinoid System (ECS)

We have, within our bodies, a physical system that relies on a phenomenon that has been a part of life on Earth for over 500 million years… cannabinoid signaling. Our EndoCannabinoid System (ECS) is a molecular signaling network that utilizes certain proteins in our bodies that fit lock-and-key with cannabinoids. Every animal, with the exception of insects, has an ECS. The ECS is the reason that Cannabis plays such a role in healing. Phytocannabinoids are present in Cannabis and other plants and endocannabinoids are produced within our own bodies. Studies show that both confer health benefits in the same way, including how they kill cancer. Many plants produce ‘cannabimimetic’ compounds, which mimic cannabinoids and also play a role in the ECS.

The Cannabis plant contains over 400 natural compounds (cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and more) that are ALL healing. Over 100 of them are cannabinoids. THC and CBD are just two and they naturally occur in inverse function to each other (the more THC, the less CBD and vice versa). THC is the only psychoactive cannabinoid. It mimics anandamide, an endocannabinoid (we make ourselves in the body) known as the ‘bliss molecule.’ We create endocannabinoids with the help of Omega-3 fatty acids. CBD increases the amount of endocannabinoids in our system. The different compounds work together to exponentially combine their healing qualities (the Entourage Effect). Other phytocannabinoids include kava, rosemary, liverwort, maca, black truffles, echinacea, cacao, black pepper, flax, cruciferous vegetables, mustard, and carrots. I find it interesting that we have already discussed so many of these as having detoxifying, immune-stimulating, and anti-cancer effects.

This system regulates important functions… from inflammation to pain, protection of the nervous system, modulation of the immune system, tumor regulation, seizure activity, and other important areas of health and well-being. The main function of the ECS aligns with the ‘mission statement’ of the human body… to achieve homeostasis to survive the stressors the body is subjected to. Cannabinoids lock onto our ECS receptors and stimulate them to regulate our health. We have cannabinoid receptors throughout our body… in our immune system, in our central and peripheral nervous systems, and many more physiological systems.

There are two main types of receptors in the ECS: CB1, in the brain and central nervous system as well as some peripheral nerves and organs and CB2, mostly in peripheral organs and the immune system. Different cannabinoids fit into these ‘locks’ in different ways to work with our body’s systems to achieve homeostasis. THC and CBD are the main pharmacologically active cannabinoids. THC binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors, and CBD is an endocannabinoid modulator, a homeostatic regulator, and can work as an inverse agonist (an agent that binds to the same receptor as an agonist but induces a pharmacological response opposite to that agonist) at the CB1 or CB2 receptors. In other words, it has a bi-directional affect, depending on what is needed to achieve homeostasis. A third cannabinoid receptor in the ECS, the GPR55, appears to play a role in epileptic seizures and autistic behavior.

– GPR55 – the third cannabinoid receptor

– CB1&2 receptors

– Discovery of the ECS

– What is the Endocannabinoid System? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

–EndoCannabinoid System

– What is the EndoCannabinoid System? Introduction to the ECS

Clinical EndoCannabinoid Deficiency (CECD)

So the question should really be… “Are cannabinoids necessary for my body to achieve and maintain good health?” And the answer is Yes! CECD is a real thing. If you don’t ingest or manufacture enough cannabinoids, you can develop a deficiency, with ensuing health problems. “Migraine, fibromyalgia, IBS and related conditions display common clinical, biochemical and pathophysiological patterns that suggest an underlying clinical endocannabinoid deficiency that may be suitably treated with cannabinoid medicines” (NeuroEndocrinology Letter). Chronic pain, dysfunctional immune systems, fatigue, and mood imbalances are related to CECD. If you have cancer, you have a dysfunctional immune system. It seems logical to me that ingesting cannabinoids at the very least, is going to make sure you are not deficient and will help you in fighting and surviving cancer and its treatments.

– CECD: therapeutic benefits of cannabis, NeuroEndocrinol Lett.

– The ECS as a Target in Cancer

Health benefits of Marijuana

Cannabis relieves pain, reduces inflammation and nausea, relieves anxiety, increases appetite, aids sleep, calms anxiety, kills bacteria and fungi, and promotes bone growth so it can be used to treat a variety of conditions and side effects of chemo and radiation. It has been effective in treating: cancer, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, ALS, auto-immune diseases, and epilepsy. Cannabis can be an effective immunomodulator for auto-immune diseases. The cannabinoid 2-AG, as well as CBD, is important for controlling seizures by preventing the nervous system from becoming overstimulated.

In addition, there are significant neuroprotective qualities. CBD has been found to facilitate neurogenesis or, the growing of new neural cells, and cannabinoids have been shown to protect the brain against the development of beta amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s, possibly even to reverse decline. Cannabinoids have also recently been found to be effective in battling opiate addiction. Cannabis helps thyroid hormone regulation and reduces inflammation , or thyroiditis. If only research on the medical effects of Cannabis were legally unfettered and financially supported. We need extensive research studying different doses, different ratios of different cannabinoids, different types of cancer and other disease conditions to definitively find which cannabinoids are best for which.

– Neuroprotective antioxidants from marijuana

– 700 Medicinal uses of Cannabis by disease

– Cannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review

– Cannabis as an immunomodulator for autoimmune diseases

– CBD and THC are neuroprotective antioxidants

– Doctors Speak Out On The Benefits Of CBD

– Positive Effects of Cannabinoids

– Potential therapeutic effects of THC on Alzheimer’s

The Safety of Cannabis

While we all know stories of the regretful ingestion of too much THC through edibles and the jury is out on impairment while driving, there has never been a recorded death attributable to Cannabis. THC is the cannabinoid that has psychoactive properties and thus poses the only potential danger. It is only one of 100+ cannabinoids and of 400 natural substances in Cannabis. It can be tested, measured, and dosed appropriately. Virtually every substance on earth could be deleterious if over-consumed. It seems evident that the health benefits far outweigh potential dangers, and prudent consumption should be the rule.

CBD is a cannabinoid that exists in an inverse ratio to THC… if a strain is high in THC, it is low in CBD and vice versa. CBD is NOT psychoactive and, in fact, serves to counteract the psychoactive properties of THC because it competes with THC to bind to many of the same receptors. You control the amount of psychoactivity by monitoring the ratio of THC to CBD in the strain used to produce the product you are ingesting. Because it is beneficial for me to ingest both THC and CBD and I don’t like to be high, I take a balanced blend oil under my tongue every night before bed. I sleep like a rock, I have wild spy dreams wherein I save the world, but I wake up rested and clear-headed. : )

– Cannabis Safety

#2: Does Cannabis kill cancer?

While many medical professionals accept the usefulness of cannabis to mitigate the adverse side effects of chemo and radiation, many more are not aware of cannabis’ ability to protect against and fight active cancer. Science has known about its anti-cancer properties at least as far back as 1974. Cannabis doesn’t kill cancer so much as it causes it to commit suicide and deprives it of life-giving nutrients. That is somehow poetically just and aesthetically pleasing.

Selective conversion of your bioterrain from hospitable to hostile

I do not promote Cannabis as a ‘cure’… because I don’t believe a cure for cancer exists or will ever exist. But I believe cancer is a dis-ease condition that can be managed. We all fight cancer every day. I’ve said many times, if you have cancer, your immune system has not been up to combating the carcinogenic stressors your body has been subjected to. You have developed a ‘bioterrain’ that is hospitable to cancer, allowing it to thrive. If you wish to manage cancer, you must convert that bioterrain to one that is hostile to it. I’ve explained how cannabinoids help our physiological systems achieve homeostasis. Cannabis helps create a bioterrain hostile to cancer by regulating the immune system, destroying cancer’s protection, and depriving it of a blood supply.

How Cannabis fights cancer

All cells are programmed to die (apoptosis), but cancer works around that, becoming ‘bullet-proof.’ Cannabinoids outsmart cancer and induce apoptosis, making it mortal again. They do that by binding to the CB1 and CB2 receptors and increasing ceramide. As ceramide increases, the mitochondria lose cyctochrome (an important protein in energy production), the cell can no longer make energy, and cell death ensues. The fascinating thing is that cannabinoids do not increase ceramide in the presence of healthy cells… only cancer cells. Apoptosis is a better way for a cell to die than necrosis (which is what happens when chemotherapy and radiation kill cancer and healthy cells). Necrosis introduces a toxic load the healing body is ill-equipped to deal with, while in apoptosis cells are neatly dissembled and ‘eaten’ (phagocytosis).

Cannabinoids also inhibit cancer by starving it, in a sense. Angiogenesis is the formation of blood networks to feed a tumor. The anti-angiogenesis properties of cannabinoids prevent this formation so the tumor starves. In addition to inhibiting size and growth of tumors, cannabinoids inhibit metastasis through regulation of ID-1 gene expression. So, CB1 and CB2 receptor activation by cannabinoids in our ECS induces apoptosis and impairs angiogenesis and metastasis… the trifecta for killing cancer! Cannabinoids also cross the BBB, making it extremely valuable in fighting cancer brain metastases. Yay!

– How Cannabinoids Kill Cancer

– Anticancer mechanisms of cannabinoids, Cannabinoids decreases tumor growth in animal models by modulating key cell-signaling pathways involved in cancer cell proliferation and survival. Cannabinoids also inhibit angiogenesis and decrease metastasis, 2016

– Antineoplastic Activity of Cannabinoids, Animals treated for 10 consecutive days with THC, demonstrated retarded tumor growth, 1975

–  Antitumor Activity of … Cannabinoids, CBD inhibits progression of glioblastoma, breast, lung, prostate and colon cancer. This review centers on mechanisms by which CBD inhibits tumor cell viability, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and the stem-like potential of cancer cells, 2015

– Antitumoral action of cannabinoids, cannabinoids signal apoptosis by a pathway involving cannabinoid receptors, sustained ceramide accumulation and Raf1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation, 2000

– Cannabinoid receptor agonists are mitochondrial inhibitors, a unified hypothesis of how cannabinoids modulate mitochondrial function and induce cell death, 2007

– How cannabis kills cancer cells (video), Dr. Christina Sanchez

– How Does Cannabis Kill Cancer Cells ?

The Entourage Effect

The combined use of THC, CBD, other cannabinoids, terpenes and other natural compounds found in Cannabis has a synergistic effect on suppression of cancer activity… the whole is more than the sum of the parts. For that reason it is recommended one use products from the whole plant, not chemical isolates. As I mentioned, THC and CBD naturally occur within a plant in an inverse ratio… i.e., if a strain is high in THC, it is necessarily low in CBD, and vice versa.

One can control the ratio by choosing a strain bred and tested to deliver a certain ratio. THC is psychoactive and CBD isn’t thus, in a whole plant extract, the more CBD you ingest, the less THC you will ingest and the less ‘high’ you will experience. Additionally, as CBD binds to receptors that THC would have, it lessens the psychoactivity of the THC. They both fight cancer in similar, yet complementary, ways. While I believe one should strive for a balance of THC and CBD for maximum effectiveness, a high CBD strain can still be very effective if that’s all you can obtain or tolerate. More in Question#3.

In relation to western treatment options

If I have a single medicine that I can recommend to assist with nausea, anorexia, insomnia, depression, and pain rather than prescribing five or six pharmaceuticals that may interact with each other or the patient’s chemotherapy, I consider it an attractive option for my patients. ~ Donald I. Abrams, MD (referring to Cannabis)

I chose Cannabis because western options were disagreeable. Anyone who has endured (or watched loved ones endure) chemotherapy and radiation knows the side effects and that those treatments can kill. In addition to toxic necrosis of both cancer and healthy tissue, side effects include loss of appetite, nausea, anxiety and depression, insomnia, organ failure, pain and neuropathy. Western options can play a positive role in fighting cancer, but it is exciting to consider Cannabis as a first-line treatment option. It has little to no side effects and rectifies deficiencies of compounds our bodies require. Big plus: it helps to palliate cancer symptoms and the side effects of western treatment.

Research suggests combining cannabinoids with chemotherapy drugs may be an effective approach. This is supported by experiments combining cannabinoids with drugs including gemcitabine and temozolomide. Care must be taken when taking chemo or other drugs and Cannabis. Like grapefruit, CBD (to a lesser extent THC) inhibits a certain liver enzyme (CYP450) that breaks down certain drugs, making the drugs last longer and work more effectively. This is good news because you need less of the drug. However, it is important to evaluate your dosage with your doctor because it could also increase drug toxicity.

– 95.9% Of Cancer Patients Report Improvement After Using Cannabis

– Anticancer effects of cannabinoids with chemotherapy in leukemia, 2017

– Cannabidiol Is a Novel Inhibitor for EMV Release in Cancer, Exosomes and microvesicles (EMV) are involved in intercellular communication and associated with cancer and chemo-resistance and pro-oncogenic factors. EMV-inhibiting agents can sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents and reduce cancer growth in vivo, 2018

– Cannabidiol  Protects against  … Cardiomyopathy, 2015

– Cannabinoids, chemotherapy more effective

– Cannabinoids shown to enhance tumor-killing effects of chemotherapy drugs

– CBD–drug interactions

– The Combination of Cannabidiol and THC Enhances Anticancer Effects of Radiation, 2014

– Cannabinoids and Temozolomide against Glioma, 2011

– Gemcitabine/cannabinoid combination triggers autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells, 2011

– Pharmacological synergism between cannabinoids and paclitaxel in gastric cancer cell lines, 2009

Use with Immunotherapy

I would be remiss to not mention a recently published Israeli study that concluded that Cannabis can interfere with immunotherapy. It has been found that ‪high dosing of THC will influence T-Cells to become more ‘regulatory’ instead of the ‘helper’ type. So if using an immunotherapy that is hoped to trigger ‘helper’ T-cells, then this could mean using with THC could significantly interfere. But this was the first study on the effects of medical marijuana on immunotherapy drug treatments, and it has its limitations.

It is a retrospective study based on already available data, as compared to a controlled study. In addition, it studied a limited number of patients, and those treated with medical marijuana used a number of different strains of the plant, as well as a wide range of dosages and application methods. In my opinion, these limitations make the ‘study’ basically useless. It seems a bit irresponsible to publish with these conclusions without a properly conducted study and relevant variables controlled.

– Medical Marijuana Can Reduce Effectiveness of Immunotherapy

Research

I’m not one for conspiracy theories but it is rather interesting that, in 1974, government researchers set out to prove that THC was bad, discovered instead that it suppresses lung cancer, and the research was buried for years. There is actually a terrific body of research on cancer-killing properties of cannabinoids. But what we really need is human clinical trials isolating different cannabinoids and their effects on different diseases. Many studies that shed light on the healing properties of cannabinoids have been done on animals and we must always be cautious in drawing conclusions for humans. However, it is important to note that research into the mechanisms of cannabinoids in preventing epileptic seizures that was first performed in cells and animals was born out in later human studies and is supported by the extraordinary and large body of human anecdotal evidence. All species have an ECS, after all.

–  Antineoplastic activity of cannabinoids (1975)

In fact, cannabinoids work better in humans than preclinical evidence suggests, since those studies use chemical-induced seizures and the cannabinoids are working on genetically-driven seizures that no pharmaceuticals in existence work against. If those preclinical effects translated, why not for cancer too?

Generally, research progresses from human or animal cell lines in labs (in vitro) to cells in animals (in vivo) to cells in living humans (clinical trials). I think it is noteworthy that, even though it is federally illegal, the U.S. government holds over a dozen patents involving the health benefits of cannabis. More references and general information sources are in Question #10.

General cancer research, reviews, mechanisms of action

– Antitumor Effects of Cannabinoids, Cannabinoid compounds, apoptotic effects: dosage, type of cancer, and compound configuration, 2018

– Cannabinoid pharmacology: the first 66 years, 2006

– Cannabinoid receptor ligands as potential anticancer agents

– Cannabinoids and Cancer, Mini-Reviews Medicinal Chemistry, 2005

– Cannabinoids: Anticancer Agents, Guzman 2003

– Cannabinoid receptors: targets for tumor intervention, 2003

– Cannabinoids as antitumorals. Dr. Sánchez (video)

– Cannabinoids as therapeutic agents in cancer, Current status and future implications, 2014

– Cannabinoids for Cancer Treatment, A review of recent work in the development and exploration of potent, nontoxic, and non-habit-forming cannabinoids for cancer therapy in many cancers, 2008

– Cannabinoids in cellular proliferation, The capacity of cannabinoids to induce apoptosis of different tumoral cells in culture and in vivo, the mechanism underlying, and the potential therapeutic applications are discussed in this review, 2005

– Cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer, A review that summarizes anti-cancer properties of cannabinoids and potential mechanisms of action

– Cannabis: A Prehistoric Remedy for the Deficits of Existing and Emerging Anticancer Therapies

– Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®): Integrative, alternative, and complementary therapies – Patient Information [National Cancer Institute]

– Cannabis-derived substances in cancer therapy, An emerging anti-inflammatory role for cannabinoids, 2010

–  CB2 receptor signals apoptosis, ceramide-dependent activation of the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway, 2006

– Ceramide is involved in cannabinoid-induced apoptosis, 2002

– Comparative study on cannabidiol-induced apoptosis, 2008

– EndoCannabinoid System and cancer: therapeutic implication, Review focuses on how activation of ECS impacts breast, prostate and bone cancer in vitro and in vivo, 2011

– Endocannabinoid signaling in cancer, The main signaling pathways for the antitumor effects of the endocannabinoid system in cancer and its basic role in cancer pathogenesis, 2013

– Endocannabinoids immune system and cancer, Modulation of the endocannabinoid system interferes with cancer cell proliferation either by inhibiting mitogenic autocrine/paracrine loops or by directly inducing apoptosis, 2002

– Endocannabinoids as emerging suppressors of angiogenesis and tumor invasion (review), 2007

– Everything You Need To Know About: How THC Kills Cancer

– Heterogeneity and complexity of Cannabis extracts as antitumor agents

– Towards the use of cannabinoids as antitumor agents, Cannabinoids reduce tumor growth and progression in animals. 2012

Lists of studies:

– National Institute of Health listing of published research on Cannabinoids and Cancer (nearly 1500 peer-reviewed articles)

– 20 Medical Studies that show Cannabis can be a potential cure for Cancer

– The Top 42 Medical Studies That Prove Cannabis Can Cure Cancer

– 44 medical studies that demonstrate Cannabis can treat cancer

– 82 studies on the efficiency of marijuana against cancer

– 500+ global studies, International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines

– Government list (cancer.gov)

Cannabis and breast cancer:

– Anti-tumor activity of plant cannabinoids, effect of cannabidiol on human breast carcinoma. CBD counteracts cell growth both in vivo and in vitro as well as tumor metastasis in vivo, 2006

– Cannabidiol as inhibitor of Id-1 gene expression in aggressive breast cancer cells, CBD is the first nontoxic exogenous agent that significantly decreases Id-1 expression in metastatic breast cancer cells leading to down-regulation of tumor aggressiveness…. proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, 2007

– Cannabidiol Induces Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells by Coordinating Crosstalk between Apoptosis and Autophagy. CBD reduced viability and caused apoptosis in breast cancer cells(human cancer cells),  2011

– Cannabidiolic acid is an inhibitor of breast cancer cell migration, Takeda S et al, 2012

– Cannabinoids: a new hope for breast cancer therapy? Evidence supports that cannabinoids possess anticancer activity, exert anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-migratory and anti-invasive actions in a wide spectrum of cancer cells in culture, 2012

– Cannabinoids Fight Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (article)

– Cannabinoids reduce (HER2+) breast cancer progression, Cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cancer cell apoptosis, and impair tumor angiogenesis in vivo, 2010

– CBD an inhibitor of breast cancer cell migration

– Crosstalk between chemokine receptor and cannabinoid receptor in modulating breast cancer growth, 2011

– Future Use: Cannabinoids in Breast Cancer Therapy

– How Cannabidiol (CBD) prevents growth and metastasis of breast cancer (article), 2012

– Novel anti-tumor mechanisms of Cannabidiol in breast cancer, CBD is a potent anti-tumor drug with anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive (mice in vivo) 2015

– Patents: Phytocannabinoids for use in the treatment of breast cancer, Use of THC and CBD in the treatment of aggressive breast cancer

– Pathways mediating effects of cannabidiol on the reduction of breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, CBD inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation and in vivo, 2011

– Phyto-, endo- and synthetic cannabinoids: chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of breast and prostate carcinomas. Reviews published research to date on how CBD could become an effective tool in the treatment of prostate and breast cancer, 2016

– Role of Cannabinoid Receptor CB2 in HER2 Pro-oncogenic Signaling in Breast Cancer, 2015

– Therapeutic targeting in HER2-positive breast cancer, THC selectively binds to CB2R, inactivating HER2 and triggering antitumor responses in vitro and in vivo, 2019

I focused on breast cancer because that’s what I have (had?). High doses of CBD eradicated some of my leptomeningeal metastases and I have been NEAD since 2014. I now take a mixed THC/CBD oil every night before bed as ‘maintenance.’ I have HER2+ cancer, whose cells have an overabundance of CB2 receptors and is receptive to cannabis. There is exciting research supporting the effectiveness of cannabinoids in fighting ALL cancers (as well as a host of other disease conditions). Their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier make them highly effective, not only in fighting breast cancer brain metastases but also primary brain cancers that are particularly challenging, such as gliomas.

Brain Cancer:

– Antitumor Effects of Cannabidiol on Human Glioma Cell Lines, CBD produced antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo, 2004

– Cannabidiol enhances THC… glioblastoma…

– Cannabidiol in neuroblastoma, 2016

– Cannabidiol inhibits human glioma cell migration, Results reinforce evidence of antitumoral properties of CBD and its ability to limit tumor invasion, 2005

– Cannabinoid action induces cell death through stimulation of ER stress in human glioma cells. THC induces human glioma cell death through stimulation of autophagy, 2009

– Cannabinoid receptors in human astroglial tumors

– Cannabinoid therapy for the treatment of gliomas?, Cannabinoids induce apoptosis of glioma cells in vitro and inhibit angiogenesis of gliomas, kill glioma cells in vivo, 2004

– Cannabinoid s inhibit the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway in gliomas, 2004

– Cannabinoids and gliomas, Cannabinoids inhibit the growth of different types of tumor cells in vivo by modulating key cell signaling pathways inducing antitumoral actions such as the apoptotic death of tumor cells and the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, 2007

– Cannabinoid s as potential new therapy for the treatment of gliomas, A pilot clinical trial on patients with glioblastoma multiforme demonstrated their good safety profile together and remarkable antitumor effects, 2014

– Cannabinoids inhibit glioma cell invasion

– Cannabinoid s inhibit proliferation, induce death… glioblastoma

– Cannabinoids Inhibit the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway in Gliomas, 2004, Cannabinoid-induced inhibition of VEGF production and VEGFR-2 activation paralleled changes in tumor size

– Cannabis Shrinks Aggressive Brain Tumors – MRI Evidence of 3 Recent Case Studies, 2017

– CB1 and CB2 receptors… inducing apoptosis in astrocytomas

– CB2 receptor expression in endothelial cells of glioblastoma

– CBD triggers caspase activation and oxidative stress in glioma

– Ground-breaking research, cannabis and brain cancer

– High concentrations of cannabinoids activate apoptosis in glioma

– Inhibition of Glioma Growth in Vivo by Selective Activation of the CB2  Receptor, Selective activation signaled apoptosis via ceramide synthesis, 2001

– A new marker of cannabinoid antitumoral activity?

–Marijuana Found to Shrink Aggressive Brain Cancer

– A pilot clinical study of THC in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, To determine the safety of intracranial THC administration, 2006

– THC induces apoptosis in C6 glioma cells, 1998

– THC inhibits cell cycle progression glioblastoma cells

Colon Cancer:

– Cannabinoid receptor activation induces apoptosis, Activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors induced apoptosis and increased ceramide levels in DLD-1 and HT29 colon cancer cells, 2008

– Cannabinoids in intestinal inflammation and cancer, In vivo, cannabinoids exert protective effects in intestinal inflammation and colon cancer, 2009

– Turned-off Cannabinoid Receptor Turns on Colorectal Tumor Growth,  CB1 receptor plays a tumor- suppressing role in human colorectal cancer,  2008

Leukemia and Lymphomas:

– Cannabidiol-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells, Exposure of leukemia cells to cannabidiol led to reduction in cell viability, induction in apoptosis, a significant decrease in tumor burden, and an increase in apoptotic tumors in vivo, 2006

– Cannabinoid Receptor-Mediated Apoptosis in Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Cannabinoids induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in MCL, which expresses high levels of CB1 and CB2 receptors, 2006

– Enhancing the Activity of Cannabidiol… Through Modifications to Drug Combinations, Treatment Schedules

– Expression of cannabinoid receptors type 1 and type 2 in non‐Hodgkin lymphoma: Growth inhibition by receptor activation, 2008

– Targeting cannabinoid receptors to treat leukemia

– Targeting CB2 cannabinoid receptors as a novel therapy to treat malignant lymphoblastic disease, Treatment of with THC in vivo led to a significant reduction in tumor load, increase in tumor-cell apoptosis, and increase in survival of tumor-bearing mice, 2002

Liver Cancer:

– Antitumoral action cannabinoids hepatocellularcarcinoma, 2011

Lung Cancer:

– Cannabidiol inhibits lung cancer cell invasion & metastasis, 2012

– CB1 and CB2 as novel targets for inhibition of non-small cell lung cancer growth and metastasis, 2011

– In vivo effects of cannabinoids… Lewis lung carcinoma

– THC inhibits epithelial growth factor-induced lung cancer cell migration in vitro as well as its growth and metastasis in vivo, 2008

– THC inhibits growth, metastasis of lung cancer

Pancreatic Cancer:

– Cannabinoids Induce Apoptosis of Pancreatic Tumor Cells, Cannabinoid administration (a) induced apoptosis, (b) increased ceramide levels, and (c) up-regulated mRNA levels of the stress protein p8, 2006

Prostate Cancer:

– Biochemist who cured his stage 4 prostate cancer with cannabis oil explains how it works

– Cannabinoid Receptor as Novel Target…Prostate Cancer

– Cannabinoids inhibit carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo, 2013

– Inhibition of human tumor prostate cell growth by cannabinoids, In vivo and in vitro inhibition of prostate cancer cells suggests CB2 agonist potential in prostate cancer, 2009

– The role of cannabinoids in prostate cancer, 2012

Skin Cancer:

– EndoCannabinoid System of the skin …therapeutic opportunities

– Inhibition of tumor growth, angiogenesis in vivo …. cannabinoid receptors

Testimonials, case studies, success stories

This is where my critics are going to have kittens because anecdotal accounts aren’t statistically valid, are a sample size of one and variables have not been controlled to establish causality. But as I am fond of saying, when you’ve been given weeks to live, you don’t have the luxury of waiting for that clinical trial that is just a gleam in some scientist’s eye. At some level, you’ve accepted the potential value of anecdotal stories because this book is basically one big anecdotal account. Explore these, take them with a grain of salt, but let them fill you with hope. Because without hope, we have nothing.

Success Story Collections

– www.cannabisoilsuccessstories.com

–www.cannabishealthradio.com

-Illegally healed

– Facebook has many cannabis oil success story pages and groups, here are some…

–www.facebook.com/groups/416702921703509

-www.facebook.com/groups/248405321962309

-www.facebook.com/groups/2040385269570330

Breast cancer:

Brain cancer:

Colorectal and Gastrointestinal cancer:

Leukemia and Lymphoma:

Lung cancer:

  • Rose, Stage 4 lung cancer with brain and bone mets
  • Stan Rutner, stage 4 lung cancer with brain mets

Other  cancers:

So this is all very promising, but…

… there are also indications of cannabinoids’ puzzling, if not troubling, effects on cancer. While, there are arguments to negate or minimize these findings, I would be remiss not to mention them. They are further support for the argument that we need much more research, including clinical trials, in order to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the ECS and its relationship to cancer in humans. Specifically, we need to isolate the actions of the different cannabinoids and other natural compounds in cannabis and different roles of different CB receptors in different types of cancer. It must be fully legal to do such research.

– Cannabinoids… encourage cancer cells to grow

– Cannabis… different effects depend on dosage and levels of cannabinoid receptors on cancer cells

– Cancer cells may be able to develop resistance to cannabinoids and start growing again, although blocking ALK pathways in the cells can get around it

– THC enhances breast cancer growth and metastasis by suppression of the antitumor immune response

This is my snapshot of the current state of research on Cannabis and cancer. I didn’t have the luxury of waiting for more to be performed and published. I took the chance before I had done even this much research and am glad that I did. Seeing it corroborated with so much research is satisfying.

To recap, I took high doses of CBD when I eradicated some of my leptomeningeal metastases and have been NEAD since 2014. I now take a mixed THC/CBD oil every night before bed as ‘maintenance.’ I have HER2+ cancer, whose cells have an overabundance of CB2 receptors and are receptive to cannabis. Again, I don’t like to be high, so I take it at bedtime.

#3: What is the difference between different kinds of Cannabis?

 

There are three main dichotomies that are confused and confusing when trying to differentiate Cannabis and associated products…

  • Indica vs. Sativa
  • THC vs. CBD
  • Marijuana vs. Hemp

Indica vs. Sativa: Different species of Cannabis

Indica and Sativa are different species of cannabis that can be bred to create hybrid strains that reflect properties of both. Strains range from 100% Indica to 100% Sativa to ratios such as 30% indica :70% sativa, 50:50 combinations, 80% indica :20% sativa, for example.

Indica:

  • is relaxing, body-oriented and lowers the energy level while Sativa is stimulating, cerebrally focused and energizing.
  • reduces pain, symptoms, and helps with sleep while Sativa stimulates creativity and appetite and combats depression.
  • plants grow short and wide and are better suited for indoor growing while Sativa plants grow tall and thin (up to 25’ !) and are better suited for outdoor growing.
  • leaves are short and wide while Sativa leaves are long and thin.
  • strains have a strong sweet-sour odor while Sativas have a grassy odor.
  • tends toward the CB2 receptors, thus is more immunoactive, while Sativa tends toward the CB1 receptor, thus is more neuroactive.
  • tends toward CBD (cannabidiol), whereas Sativa tends toward THC.
Indica:                                                                  Sativa:

relieves body pain                                             promotes feelings of well-being

relaxes muscles                                                 stimulates and energizes

relieves spasms, reduces seizures                     increases focus and creativity

lessens headaches and migraines                     promotes cerebral thoughts

relieves anxiety or stress                                   combats depression

– Indica vs. Sativa

– What’s the Difference Between Cannabis Types?

THC vs. CBD: Different Cannabinoids within Cannabis

There are almost 500 natural compounds, including 100+ cannabinoids in Cannabis. They occur in varying ratios to each other and can be bred to obtain specific ratios. (Delta9-) THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid that makes one ‘high’ (Sativa) or ‘stoned’ (Indica). CBD (Cannabidiol) is NOT psychoactive and exists in a naturally occurring inverse relationship to THC… meaning that if a strain is high in THC, then it is low in CBD and vice versa.

Since they both compete in binding to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the EndoCannabinoid System (ECS) within our bodies, CBD can actually counteract the psychoactive effects of THC by ‘shutting it out.’ It can also modulate the binding of THC. Both have healing properties as do other cannabinoids, terpenes, and the other natural compounds in Cannabis. In the last question, I discussed the mechanisms by which cannabinoids combat cancer. THC helps shrink tumors, reduces pain and stimulates appetite. CBD reduces inflammation, inhibits the growth of cancer cells, reduces stress, anxiety, tremors, pain, and is good for Lyme’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and a long list of other ailments.

How do these two dichotomies relate to each other?

So, if one compares these two dichotomies, it would be tempting to say, “Oh, then Sativa must be high in THC, while, Indica must be high in CBD.” I have found references proclaiming that is true and claims that, based on enzyme conversion of different cannabinoids, the opposite is true. There is even an argument that the Indica/Sativa species differentiation is false.

I conclude that there has been so much selective breeding that the difference between Indica and Sativa in regard to THC/CBD content is irrelevant in contemporary times. There are several different strains or sub-species of Cannabis, and they may be better characterized by their ‘chemotype”, which reflects the ratio of cannabinoids, rather than their species.

“The amounts of CBD and THC in an individual Cannabis plant can be characterized both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative characterization involves determining a plant’s THC/CBD ratio and assigning it to a discrete chemical phenotype (chemotype). Small and Beckstead’s (1973) system of classification assigns chemotype I to plants with a high THC/CBD ratio (>1.0), chemotype II plants have an intermediate ratio (close to 1.0), and chemotype III plants have a low THC/CBD ratio (<1.0).”

–  A chemotaxonomic analysis of cannabinoid variation in Cannabis, Hillig and Mahkberg, 2004

Marijuana vs. Hemp: now defined by THC content

The selective breeding of the Cannabis plant has further muddied the distinction between Marijuana and Hemp. Originally, hemp referred to a particular species of Cannabis that had no psychoactive properties and had a thick and fibrous body that produces excellent fiber used in rope and textiles. With burgeoning hybridization and legal terms to differentiate use, any plant that contains less than .3% THC is now considered Hemp while anything with more than .3% THC is considered Marijuana. Thus High CBD/Low THC ‘Hemp’ products are legally available in all 50 states and in Canada.

Since THC content is desirable in marijuana strains and undesirable in hemp strains, they are selectively cultivated. In marijuana, focus is on the female buds and great attention is spent on each plant and maximizing their flowering yield. Cultivation of hemp is usually outdoors since size and fibrous yield are the desired outcomes and primarily male plants that do not have flowering buds are grown. Because of breeding, it is possible to have high CBD strains in strains that were considered ‘marijuana’ as well as traditionally ‘industrial hemp’ strains. To be legally classified as ‘CBD’ or ‘hemp,’ there must be less than .3% THC. Also, the ratio of other cannabinoids and terpenes may differ.

It is generally considered that marijuana provides a fuller spectrum of quality healing cannabinoids in greater concentrations than industrial hemp.

– Beginners Guide to CBD Oil

– Sourcing CBD: Marijuana, Hemp & vagaries of federal law

Other Cannabinoids and compounds in Cannabis and Hemp

The numbers of cannabinoids and natural compounds that have been identified vary from source to source, but let’s just say around 100 cannabinoids and just shy of 500 compounds. In addition to (Delta9) THC and CBD, the most studied and prevalent cannabinoids are:

  • CBC – Cannabichromene: Anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, promotes neuro-genesis and bone growth, anti-cancer (promotes apoptosis). Slows anandamide breakdown, inhibiting cell proliferation
  • CBDa – raw CBD before decarboxylation.* Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, dense nutrient, improves intestinal and neural function.
  • CBDv – Cannabidivarin: anti-seizure, anti-nausea
  • CBG – Cannabigerol: pain relief, anti-tumor, anti-depressant, anti-psoriasis
  • CBGa – Cannabigerolic Acid: ‘cannabinoidal stem cell,’ biosynthesizes in order to convert into other cannabinoids. As CBGa,* it is a pain reliever, an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-caner (promotes apoptosis) agent.
  • CBN – Cannabinol: Stimulates appetite, antibiotic, pain relief, anti-asthma, sedative, treatment for glaucoma and ALS
  • THCa – raw THC before decarboxylation.* Non-psychoactive, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, dense nutrient, improves intestinal, neural function.
  • THCv – (20% as psychoactive as THC), anti-convulsant, neuroprotectant, appetite suppressant
  • Delta8-THC – less psychoactive, stimulates appetite, anti-nausea.

* the ‘a’ forms of cannabinoids, represent raw forms that have not had heat applied to them. When heat is applied (decarboxylation), cannabinoids lose a molecule of CO2 and exhibit different properties.

– The cannabinoid acids: nonpsychoactive derivatives with therapeutic potential

– Cannabinoid Profiles THC, THCA, THCV, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC & Terpenes (video)

– Top ten cannabinoids and what they do

Terpenes

Terpenes are another group of medicinal chemicals found in Cannabis and other plants. 120 different terpenes are found in Cannabis and their healing effects include pain relief, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, anti-bacterial, immune stimulant, anti-seizure… very similar to those attributed to cannabinoids. Terpenes amplify the healing power of Cannabis and can bind to the CB receptors in ways that mimic cannabinoids. For example, beta carophyllene is a terpene that binds selectively to CB2 receptors for a cytotoxic effect but does not bind to CB1 receptors so it can be substituted for THC to kill cancer but not get you high. Myrcene is present in indica strains and is responsible for much of the sedative affect and is good for sleep.

–  15 Cannabis Terpenes Explained

– How Do Cannabis Terpenes Affect the Body?

– Marijuana terpenes and their effects

– Top 5 Healing Terpenes

Flavonoids

There are about 20 Flavonoids in Cannabis and they have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavonoids are one of the largest nutrient families known to man with over 6000 identified.

– Flavonoids:… Cannabis

The Entourage Effect

Cannabis contains all these cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other natural compounds (asterpenes, vitamins, chlorophyll, amino acids) that bind to the CB1 and 2 receptors in different ways. The combined use of all has a synergistic effect on the suppression of cancer activity. In other words, the whole is more than the sum of the parts and it is recommended that one use products from the whole plant, as opposed to chemical isolates. Again, either Cannabis was given to us or co-evolved with us. Either it is best when used as nature or God intended, and not as chemically bastardized in a lab.

– 10 Pharmaceutical drugs based on Cannabis

– Are Synthetic Cannabinoid Medications as Effective as Marijuana?

– Cannabis’ Entourage Effect: Why Whole Plant Medicine Matters

– CBD Isolate Vs. Full Spectrum CBD

– Everything You Need To Know About CBD Isolate

– Full-Spectrum Cannabis Extracts More Medically Effective than CBD Alone

– Single compound vs. whole plant CBD

Cannabis Roots

The roots of the Cannabis plant are often discarded or overlooked but apparently have healing compounds in useful ratios.

– 10 things you never knew about cannabis roots

– Cannabis Roots: A Traditional Therapy with Future Potential for Treating Inflammation and Pain

So what does this mean to you?

I maintain that our bodies are best served by using naturally occurring nutrients and medicine found in the plants we have co-existed with for millennia… we are meant for each other. The Entourage Effect is a perfect example of the complexities of the healing benefits we find in nature. Every one of these compounds presents fantastic healing powers. The fact that they combine to amplify their effects is precious. Yes we need to study each compound and combination with all different kinds of cancer so that we can breed specialized strains for specific healing benefits. But that doesn’t mean the compounds should be chemically extracted and reduced to a pill in order to fund corporate jets.

We need research. We need it to be legal at the federal level in order to conduct research that is funded for the public benefit. Until we have the results of extended research, you’ll have to do your own experimentation depending on the laws where you live, your comfort with the laws, your access to products, your desired effects, your budget, your own research, etc.

#4: How do I take Cannabis for maximum healing?

One should factor in the following into one’s treatment plan.:

  • Quality of source
  • Ratio of cannabinoids
  • Dosing
  • Delivery method

I recommend a consultation with a cannabis oncology expert.

Quality of Source

Pesticides and mold can overwhelm your immune system. You want to be sure the source material used in your product is free of those and other contaminants. A reputable source will have tested and posted the findings.

Ratio of cannabinoids

To recap… all of the 100+ cannabinoids and 500+ natural compounds in the Cannabis plant have been found to have healing benefits. The Entourage Effect demonstrates that the whole is more than the sum of the parts because they work best when taken together. Thus, a whole plant product brings more healing benefits than a synthetically reproduced or chemically extracted isolate. Again, a good source will have tested the ratio of these and post them.

The most prominent ratio posted is between THC and CBD because those are the most studied cannabinoids. They exist in an inverse ratio… if a strain is high in THC, it will be low in CBD, and vice versa. THC is psychoactive and CBD is not. Further, CBD works to counteract the psychoactive effects of THC by competing for the same receptors. Because they contain less than .3% THC, high-CBD products are legal in all 50 states and can be shipped legally. If CBD products are all that are available to you or if the psychoactive effects of THC are not desirable to you, I believe there is value in using them.

Some advocates insist the only way to heal is with a high ratio of THC:CBD. It has become clear to me that is not true. My own brain tumors went away with a high CBD strain (Desert Frost). Don’t discount the role of all of the compounds in Cannabis. I believe you cover more bases with a balanced strain with some THC in it but if that is not possible or desirable to you, try a high-quality CBD hemp product that is free of pesticides and use the ‘whole plant.’

My own tincture that I make using Cannabis I grew myself, has a much higher THC content. I take it at night before bed so I don’t get high. Because THC and CBD bill kill cancer but in different ways, I figure two guns are better than one, so I take a balanced ratio with both. If your cancer is ER+, be sure to read Question 7 as that may affect the ratio you try.

I have not used this service but am intrigued. They offer DNA testing  to determine the unique functioning of YOUR ECS. If anyone uses them, please report back to me. www.endocannahealth.com

– Finding the optimal THC and CBD ratio for therapeutic healing

– How to find the best strains of cannabis for fighting breast cancer

Dosing

Milligrams vs. Milliliters. Milliliters measures a volume whereas Milligrams measures the amount of actual cannabinoids contained in that volume. Concentration within a given product can vary, so it’s important to be aware of the total number of milligrams. The best person to make a recommendation on dosing is the manufacturer of the product or their well-informed distributor.

Many experts advise working up to 1 Gram (1000mg) of Cannabinoids per day to be most effective against cancer or, 60 grams in 90 days. Other experts think that is overkill and may actually irritate your immune system. Others have achieved success at a smaller dosage. Proponents of microdosing say ‘less is more.’ Have I mentioned that we need more research?  Rule of thumb: listen to your body.

Start out microdosing and work your way up to a higher dosage. If you do well at a certain level, titrate your dosage up, and then have undesirable effects, drop your dosage back to what you were at originally for another week then try to go up again. Most people do fine with working up the dosage on a weekly basis. But you will know best. If your condition is serious and you do not experience undesirable effects, you may wish to accelerate your schedule.

I determine my own dosing depending on the product I am using. I became very in tune with my body and I ask my body all the time (kinesiology, or muscle testing) which substances it wants and how much of it. As with many aspects of my protocol (western and naturopathic), I take occasional ‘holidays’ to avoid desensitization. The amount of wisdom your higher healing self (subconscious) knows about how best you can heal yourself is truly amazing. I urge you, in your time of healing, to cultivate your awareness of your body and access this wisdom. Start out with recommendations from experts but always monitor and adjust, based on what your developing intuition is telling you. I believe in you.

– The Art and Science of Cannabis Microdosing

–Medical Cannabis Dosing: Why Less May Be More

Delivery Method

Smoking/Vaporizing: Hand pipes, water pipes (bongs), and hookahs are ways to smoke raw Cannabis. Smoking potentially releases harmful toxins into your lungs during combustion and you may wish to vaporize instead. Vaporizers steadily heat herbs and concentrates to a temperature that releases the cannabinoids but not the toxins. Dabbing is a form of vaporizing. If concentrates are used, consider the method of concentration to ensure they don’t contain ingredients that could be toxic for you. Me? I don’t put anything in my lungs.

Oral Ingestion – Juicing, Edibles, Tinctures, Oils: If you wish to avoid smoking’s risks, then oral ingestion offers a healthy alternative. Edibles are food products containing Cannabis using a concentration of cannabinoids that have been infused in an edible fat such as butter (cannabutter), olive oil or coconut oil. Or one can simply cook with raw Cannabis. Or use a previously produced tincture or oil in your recipes. Raw Cannabis conveys many nutritional and health benefits as well and can be juiced. It is full of anti-oxidants, protein, Omega 3s and 6s, CBDa, CBGa, THCa and more.

As I explained, raw Cannabis has not had heat applied to it, thus has not been decarboxylated and different forms of the cannabinoids are present as well as nutrients that go away with heat conversion. Most notably, raw cannabis is basically non-psychoactive. Although, I have personally experienced slight psychoactivity (basically a feeling of spaciness and inability to concentrate) from juicing raw cannabis so perhaps my digestive system is decarboxylating THCa to some extent.

Tinctures are extracted and delivered using a solvent (most commonly 80+ proof alcohol, but also glycerol or vinegar). They are generally placed under the tongue for better absorption into the bloodstream by avoiding gastric breakdown. Sublingual ingestion is generally considered to be the most effective way to make cannabinoids bioavailable. Oils are produced when the cannabinoids are extracted with a solvent and reduced to a highly concentrated tar or sludge. Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is produced this way and many times placed in a syringe for dosing in rice-grain-sized amounts.

However, cannabinoids bind to fat and without omega 3s in the body they don’t work as well. Thus, a strong case can be made for suspending the sludge in a carrier oil. Studies show that cannabinoids consumed together with vegetable oils are two to three times more bioavailable and suggest that together they are transported via the lymphatic system, and not metabolised in the liver.

– Cannabis Bioavailability; What’s The Most Effective Method?

– The Bioavailability of Medical Marijuana

– Cannabis Oil: Chemical Evaluation

– Oral administration of cannabis with lipids…

One can ingest orally as is, or placed in a gelatin capsule for oral or rectal consumption. It is claimed rectal consumption (suppositories) allows one to avoid psychoactivity. It can be argued that if, in fact, it is a method of avoiding psychoactivity, that means the cannabinoids are not crossing the blood-brain barrier and would then be ineffective at combatting brain cancer or metastases. While there are anecdotal success stories from suppositories, most of the discussions I’ve seen conclude that suppositories are not an efficient way to ingest because cannabis is fat-soluble, suppositories suspend it in fat, and fats are not absorbed well rectally. I have not tried it rectally. This is an excellent example of why we need full legalization so that more studies can be conducted.

Cannabinoids do cross the blood-brain barrier and studies measure how much. The brain-to-blood ratio of THC levels in animals varied from 1.6 to 2.6 and was 3 in human cadavers. While I mentioned that taking CBD with THC may reduce the high by competing for receptors, studies have shown that taking CBD an hour before THC can increase THC levels in the brain because the CBD inhibits the drug transporters that pump THC out of your brain.

– How THC Gets Into Your Brain

Topical Application: Many cannabinoids convey anti-inflammatory and analgesic healing benefits, so relief from pain and swelling can be obtained by topical application. Skin conditions as fungus or skin cancer can be treated this way as well. Concentrated, active cannabinoids are suspended in shea butter or coconut oil, for example, and can be used as a salve or an oil to apply topically.

Drug Interactions

Some drugs increase or decrease the psychoactivity of THC and cannabinoids can increase the efficacy of certain drugs (can be a good thing but must be factored in when dosing as toxicity may be reached at lower doses) or can interfere with certain drugs. Some anti-depressants like fluoxetine, proton pump inhibitors like cimetidine, macrolides like clarithromycin, anti-mycotics, calcium antagonists, HIV protease inhibitors, amiodarone, and isoniazid can all increase the effects of THC. Phenobarbital, rifabutin, primidone, and Saint John’s Wort decrease the bioavailability of THC by accelerating THC metabolization. The effectiveness of phenacetin, granisetron, dacarbazine, and flutamide may be enhanced by THC, CBD, and CBN. Cannabinoids can replace opioids and epileptic drugs but they have the potential to interact in harmful ways if taken together. Cannabis can lower blood sugar and can have a sedating effect so this must be taken into account if you are diabetic or taking sedatives.

Tamoxifen is used in estrogen+ breast cancer and blocks estrogen receptors, interfering with circulating estrogen’s ability to bind and stimulate tumor cells. Grapefruit is commonly recommended to be avoided when taking drugs like Tamoxifen because it inhibits CYP450 metabolism. THC and other cannabinoids can also interfere with those and related metabolism pathways, making the drugs less effective. Tamoxifen binds to CB1 and2 receptors so competition is also potentially an issue. Talk to your doctor.

– Breast Cancer, Cannabis, and Tamoxifen

– Cannabis Drug Interactions

– CBD Drug Interactions

– Medical Cannabis: Adverse Effects & Drug Interactions

–A Primer on Cannabinoid-drug Interactions

What I do…

  • I live in a state where medical and recreational marijuana are both legal.
  • So that I can control the strain and minimize exposure to contaminants, I grow my own Cannabis .
  • I am on a budget.
  • So that I get a balance of healing cannabinoids, I ingest some THC . I do not get my CO tested so I don’t know the exact ratio or concentration.
  • I have HER2+ cancer. One of the studies listed previously, found that both THC and CBD “inhibit cancer growth, reduce the number of tumors, and reduce the number and/or severity of metastases in HER2+ breast cancer”
  • No smoke or any potential toxins is ever inhaled into my lungs.
  • I make my own Cannabis oil so that I can control solvents.
  • In order to dilute it, I suspend the concentration in organic hemp oil . (I use hemp oil because I figure it’s a family reunion of cannabinoids that will joyfully work together to heal me. This is my own cute (it is, isn’t it?) fantasy.)
  • I don’t like to be high. So I take the oil orally every night before bed. I take a few drops because that is what my body likes. If I take it and go to sleep right away, I may have crazy dreams (usually saving the world as some sort of spy) but I sleep very well and be fully productive throughout the day. If I make the mistake of taking too much and staying up too long before trying to sleep, it may be too late…. I may be too high to go to sleep and I keep wishing for the merry-go-round to stop so that I can get off.

– How I Treat My Patients With Cannabis, Eloise Theisen podcast

#5: Is Cannabis legal?

Ahhh, this is not an easy question to answer and I need to CMA…

  • First, this discussion addresses only the United States. I apologize to my international readers, but the US situation is complicated enough.
  • Second, do not take my word for anything… please do your own research to confirm anything I present.
  • Third, I am in no way advocating for you to break laws even if I don’t agree with them or feel the end might justify the means.

I have stated my belief (based on available research) that Cannabis:

  • contains nutrients and healing compounds our bodies need,
  • can be a powerful weapon in your arsenal to fight against cancer, and
  • should be legalized so that everyone can access it’s healing benefits and extensive research can be freely supported and conducted.

Only one cannabinoid, THC (the only psychoactive one), is prohibited by law. Any Cannabis product containing less than .3% THC is classified as hemp, has healing benefits and can be legally shipped and sold in all 50 states.

Federal law

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 listed Cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug and states that:

  • it has a high potential for abuse,
  • it has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the US, and
  • there is no accepted safe use of the drug under medical supervision.

I disagree heartily with all three of those statements but the facts that I have presented can make the argument for me. Under the Obama administration, this federal prohibition was not enforced and the right of states to legislate the recreational and medical use of Cannabis was recognized as long as it was regulated. This served to decriminalize Cannabis within those contexts.

– 2013 Memorandum

The current administration has sought to override states’ rights to legislate any use of any form of marijuana. I urge you to support increased access to this safe, effective, accessible, non-toxic affordable medicine. We ride at dawn. The good news is the 2018 Farm bill that Congress removed low-THC cannabis from regulation under the CSA, availed hemp farmers of water rights and federal agricultural grants, and made the national banking accessible to farmers.

Individual State Law (as of fall, 2020)

The elections in 2016, 2018, and 2020 yielded great gains for the legalization of Cannabis. To understand the restrictions and allowed use within your own state, I provide these excellent, updated, comprehensive resources.

– National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws: State Laws

–  Marijuana States

Recreational Use – 16 states, 2 territories, and DC have legalized:)

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Guam
  • Illinois
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington D.C.

Medical Marijuana – 36 states, 4 territories and DC have legalized:

  • Alaska             • Arizona
  • Arkansas         • California
  • Colorado         • Connecticut
  • Delaware         • Florida
  • Guam               • Hawaii
  • Illinois             • Louisiana
  • Maine               • Maryland
  • Massachusetts • Michigan
  • Minnesota         • Mississippi
  • Missouri.            • Montana
  • Nevada.              • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey.       • New Mexico
  • New York.          • North Dakota
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Ohio                    • Oklahoma
  • Oregon               • Pennsylvania
  • Puerto Rico        • Rhode Island
  • South Dakota      • Utah
  • US Virgin Isl.      • Vermont
  • Virginia                • Washington
  • Washington D.C. • West Virginia

Both medical and recreational use are legal in Canada.

#6: Where do I get Cannabis?

If THC is illegal in your state, you’ll have to get creative. If it is legal, every state’s laws and distribution network is different so you will have to familiarize yourself with those. Generally, the approved outlet is a ‘dispensary.’ In a state where it is legal for medical use, you will have to get your ‘med card,’ requiring a doctor’s signature on a state form. Cancer is one of the ‘approved’ conditions. It is easiest if your oncologist would just sign it, then you won’t have to have a separate doctor. Having a med card, even in a state where recreational use is legal as well, will give you access to a certain selection of products. The quality and strength is usually better and it is sometimes less expensive. A good dispensary will have experts on hand to help you with strain and dosing advice.

Because CBD/hemp products (<.3% THC) are legal, there are several on-line sources. Most patients orally ingest a tincture or an oil. I want to caution you that many companies have sprung up to cater to this market and some of them have substandard or useless products. A recent study found that less than a third of CBD products contained the CBD advertised on the label. You want to see test results, extraction method, and references from other patients.

– Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online

Purity of content. You want no mold or pesticide residue from the source plant.A whole plant, or full spectrum, extract is what you want so you get all the compounds. You want the product to accurately reflect the ratio you have selected.

Method of extraction. This is controversial. It is generally argued that C02 and ethanol are the best methods but people argue over which is superior. Butane extraction is potentially dangerous and toxic. CO2 extraction is safe and non-toxic however, opponents argue that part of the full range of compounds, especially terpenes, are lost in the process. I personally use food-grade pure alcohol when I make mine. It boils away so there is no toxic residue.

I have no dog in this race. Here are some reputable online CBD sources…

www.cwhemp.com – The Stanley brothers represent the leading edge of this industry and are devoted to making the world a better place through hemp. You may have seen them on TV as the success they have experienced, especially with childhood epilepsy, has been covered extensively. The CW is for Charlotte’s Web, a CBD strain they developed that successfully treated Charlotte, a little girl with crippling epilepsy. They have a sister organization, an non-profit foundation called The Realm of Caring Foundation (www.realmofcaring.org) that supports research, education, and financial assistance for medicine for needy patients. They use a low-heat CO2 or alcohol extraction on a high-quality pesticide-free product. Moderately priced and ships to all 50 states, Brazil, Canada, Uruguay, and Argentina with distributors in many more countries.

www.synergycbd.com – Leonard Leinow is an extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and helpful person who has been doing this for a while. He just published a book, CBD, A Patient’s Guide to Cannabis  (see Question #10) and carries a huge variety of high-quality CBD products. If you become a member, he will help match you with the appropriate product.

Some more to check out:

Outside the US:

Here are some comparative reviews to peruse…

Terpenes

Seeds If you wish to grow your own to control strains or against contaminants:

– Best Outdoor Marijuana Seeds For Your Climate

– Strains high in CBD,  www.leafly.com/news/strains/what-cannabis-strains-are-high-in-cbd, www.hightimes.com/read/grow-qa-high-cbd-strains, www. howtogrowmarijuana.com/top-10-cbd-seeds/

CBD pain relief Salve. www.traumabalm.com (use code ‘kaiulani’ to get 10% off)

Scientists Are Making THC and CBD Without Marijuana using biosynthetic production. Count me skeptical that it will be an improvement on nature and the Entourage Effect.

#7: Will Cannabis make estrogen+ cancer grow?

There are no clinical studies that I am aware of to support this discussion, but based on reports from doctors, cannabis nurses, and patients, cannabinoids can have different effects on estrogen+ tumors than other types of breast cancer. Some have said that ER+ tumors grow with high doses of THC. It isn’t that THC makes the ER+ tumors grow but that if a tumor is not shrinking with THC, then either the tumor lacks the receptors and/or there is a mutation making it resistant. In that case, large doses of THC will not bring a benefit and may somewhat suppress the immune system by lowering T-Cell proliferation (which would normally help suppress tumors). This may be why some breast cancer patients report  a worsening using high-THC doses.

Studies do show cannabinoid receptors are over-expressed in the tumor cells of certain liver, lung, prostate and breast cancers. It may be that the endocannabinoid system may be upregulated in cancer in order to fight disease. Research shows that cannabis can be most effective with PR+, HER2+, and triple negative. High THC to CBD ratios (4:1, for example) are generally recommended. An interesting study was published that indicates that THC can has anti-tumor action in Her2+ breast cancer. Because of the reasons discussed above, ER+ cancer is generally treated with a more balanced ratio favoring CBD. That said, remember that I had my initial success using high volumes of CBD only and my cancer is HER2+. I urge everyone to consult a cannabis medical professional (see question #10) to put together a ratio and dosage plan for your cancer type.

– Therapeutic targeting of HER2–CB2R heteromers in HER2+ breast cancer

– THC has anti-tumor action against Her2+ breast cancer

– Treating Breast Cancer with Cannabis – Why the Treatment Must Match the Classification

– THC enhances breast cancer growth and metastasis by suppression of the antitumor immune response

#8: What if I don’t want to get high?

I’ve already covered this in other sections but, to summarize:

  • Take CBD or THCa only, if THC isn’t necessary for healing.
  • Take at night before sleep.
  • Try rectal suppositories (it may not be as bioavailable).
  • Try taking the beta-carophyllene terpene instead as it binds to the CB2 receptors but not the CB1 receptors, thus is not psychoactive.

#9: How do I make my own?

I buy seeds online, choosing a strain that will deliver the approximate ratio of cannabinoids I desire, and grow it myself indoors so that I know it’s organic. I harvest and dry it and make my own oil. Here is a YouTube video I made that shows you how… it’s quite easy.

Remember, many cannabinoids in their raw form convert to different cannabinoids when heat is applied. THCa becomes THC, thus psychoactive, when smoked, for example. But don’t forget, these ‘a’ cannabinoids (refer back to Question #3) have healing powers of their own. If you wish THC and CBD for example, you must decarboxylate the raw plant material. I do it in my toaster oven  at 240º for a half hour. For plants with higher moisture, time can be extended but the temperature should not be increased. CBD requires a higher temperature. Personally, I don’t mind if I only partially decarbolyate because have some of the ‘a’ cannabinoids may benefit me. Plus, I argue that evaporating the solvent on the stove should decarb sufficiently. Thus, I have been known to not decarboxylate. I haven’t truly noticed a difference.

What is decarboxylation, and why does your cannabis need it?, 

Machines. For those whom money is not an obstacle or do not feel confident doing it on the stove or using a crock pot, there are some snazzy machines you can buy to create high quality oil. Some recapture the solvent, saving some of the money you spent on the machine in the long run.

Extraction. I use Everclear 190 proof alcohol. I muddle the plant material into the liquid and strain it in three washes and evaporate the alcohol from the resulting green liquid until I get a sludge. A crockpot is even safer than the stove. It is not advisable to do it on an open flame. Suspension. Because I favor using carrier oil to increase bioavailability I whisk the warm sludge in hemp oil to suspend it. I put it in a dropper bottle and keep it next to my bed. Larger batches I keep in the fridge. Testing. I personally have never tested my resulting product but I will pass on these resources to learn more about test kit for home testing and services you can mail your product out to.

– THC test kits

–Home testing for THC potency

Topical Cream. Make Your Own Topical Cannabis Cream

Edibles. Recipes for yummy and creative Cannabis edibles abound and researching them is fun so I’ll leave you to it. Remember, cannabinoids love fats.

#10: Where can I learn more?

– Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, The only peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the scientific, medical, and psychosocial exploration of clinical cannabis, cannabinoids, and the endocannabinoid system. Editor-in-Chief: Daniele Piomelli, PhD, PharmD, Online ISSN: 2378-8763

– Cannabis for the Treatment of Cancer, free downloadable e-book by Justin Kander.

– Cannabis:  health professionals

–  Clinicians’ Guide to Cannabidiol and Hemp Oils

Books:

– Cannabinoids and Cancer, Kogan, N.

– Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

– Cannabis Revealed, Dr. Bonni Goldstein

–  CBD, A Patients guide to medical cannabis, Leonard Leinow and Juliana Birnbaum

– Comprehensive Report on the Use of Cannabis Extracts to Treat Diseases

–Cure for Cancer, the Rick Simpson Protocol, by Jindrick Bayer

– Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Current State of Evidence

– Phoenix Tears – The Rick Simpson Story

– Weed the people (movie)

Cannabis Nurses and consultants:

– American Cannabis Nurses Association, To advance excellence in cannabis nursing practice through advocacy, collaboration, education, research and policy development, www.cannabisnurses.org

– Donald I. Abrams, MD

– Green Relief Cannabis Consulting

–Kristin Wohlschlagel, RN, specializing in Oncology, Hospice and Palliative care and research. Focused on integrative care, with an emphasis on Medicinal Cannabis, available for consult. www.nursekristin.com

– Radicle Health Care , Cannabis education, advocacy, and access to cannabis care, www.radiclehealthcare.com

Organizations with research libraries, shows, and/or extensive information:

– American Cannabis Television

– Cannabis and Cancer, https://globalcannabinoidrc.com -–-over-600-research-publications-available

– Fighting Breast Cancer with Cannabis, closed facebook group (must join) with very good information and support

– Glioblastoma Brain Tumor, GBM4 and Cannabis Oil, closed facebook group (must join)

– International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines

– Realm of Caring Foundation’s extensive Research Library

– TED talk: Medical Marijuana: The Ultimate Disease Defeating Drug

– www.auntzeldas.org

– www.leafly.com

– www.medicaljane.com

– www.norml.org

– www.safeaccessnow.org

– www.unitedpatientsgroup.com

 

This post, Killing Cancer: Cannabis & Cancer, is from Book 2 of my Thrive Tribe Series, What I Did and Do and Why, a naturopathic protocol that helps me to survive and thrive, available from the bookstore, starting at $7. I am posting the entire book sequentially, in its entirety, on this blog once a week. Subscriptions are free.

Nothing contained on this website nor in my blogs or books should be construed as medical advice. I am not a doctor. I am a Stage IV metastatic breast cancer thriver who is currently NEAD and simply sharing my journey in the hopes it helps you to find your power and path. Please research anything I share to determine if it is a good choice for you. I believe in you! Bless you all on the path you choose.

All original content contained on this blog, What I did and do and why, is copyrighted 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Kaiulani Facciani, Snarling Wolf, Inc.