In May of 2014 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and with all of the new found studies of Marijuana helping cancer a lot of her friends encouraged her to try it. Due to her morals she didn’t, even though it was newly legal in Illinois to do so. Although she didn’t try smoking weed to relieve her of her side effects, I have always wondered if this theory held true. Can smoking or ingesting cannabis help cancer? That is the real question.

Although some people enjoy smoking weed for fun which isn’t legal, it could truly have many benefits to it for others in legal ways. Even though it is only legal medically in some states there are recent studies that have been coming out showing the realities of its benefits. In April of this year the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) discussed recent animal studies held at St. George’s University in London. These studies have shown marijuana can kill and reduce the size of cancers and cancer cells. They found that the THC and CBD chemicals in marijuana made radiation treatment more effective in cancer patients. Other researchers have also used mice with cancerous cells and performed tests to see the effects of THC on cancer. They found THC has anti-cancer properties after injecting it into breast cancer and brain cancer cells in mice. The scientists find their research to be helpful in the push of using cannabis to treat patients and are looking forward to finding more evidence, but not relying on it as the new found “cure” to cancer.

Some people may ask how marijuana helps symptoms of cancer considering people use it as a gateway to get high. Well, the American Cancer Society themselves have found that smoking helps with nausea from Chemotherapy which is from the chemical Dronabinol in marijuana. They also have found patients have needed less pain medication due to the chemical Nabiximols, and most recently can they have found it can slow cancer growth or even kill some of the cancer cells growing. Although they say not to rely on marijuana for the sole treatment because more studies need to be conducted and could lead to other health consequences. Overall, the ACS does support the studies and use of medical marijuana in cancer treatment for the following years to come.

Trials with Cannabis and Cancer started in 1975 and died down a little bit into private sectors over the past few years. Recent trials have shown that Cannabis can selectively target and kill malignant cancers while avoiding healthy cells unlike chemo. It has also been found that cancer patients moods lift and feel less horrible when they smoke or use marijuana throughout treatment.

With all these new findings I wonder why my mom didn’t try and smoke some weed and reliever herself from all of the agony? With more research and time I believe marijuana will be made legal in all 50 states for medical reasons. There is a lot of strong evidence already out, I can only imagine what else is to come out. I am pro medical marijuana.