Hemp and cannabis products You may have read that products such as cannabis oil or cannabis extract, which are made from the Cannabis sativa plant (also known as cannabis, marijuana and hemp), can treat or cure cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society wishes to provide you with information to help you understand these claims. The information on this page is specifically about the claims that cannabis oil, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and cannabis extract, and synthetic THC can treat or cure cancer. Please see our page on the medical use of marijuana for information about using marijuana to control the symptoms of cancer or side effects of treatment. Cannabis oil Cannabis oil, which is commonly known as hash oil but sometimes called hemp oil, comes from the leaves of the cannabis plant. It contains the chemical THC in varying amounts (depending on how the oil has been processed). Cannabis oil may also contain other chemicals. There is no reliable evidence to show that this product can treat or cure cancer. Health Canada has not licensed cannabis oil products as either a pharmaceutical or natural health product. Its manufacturing and purity are not regulated. Do not confuse cannabis oil with hemp seed oil, which is the oil extracted from the hemp seed and not cannabis leaves. Hemp seed oil is widely available in Canada and contains little to no amounts of the chemical THC. Cannabis extracts and synthetic THC Some cannabis extracts and synthetic THC products are available as an oral spray or pill. Health Canada has approved these products to treat pain from advanced cancer or to relieve nausea caused by chemotherapy. They are not approved as a treatment for cancer. These pharmaceutical products should be used only when prescribed by a doctor. Using cannabis products to help you with your cancer is a personal decision, and the Canadian Cancer Society encourages you to talk to your doctor if you decide to use these products. We encourage more research about the medicinal benefits of cannabis products so Canadians will have the answers they need about this subject.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 20:46:58 +0000
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