A non-psychoactive, naturally naturally occurring compound in the cannabis plant called cannabidiol inhibits the activity of breast cancer cells “in vitro” and in animals, according to a California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute (CPMCRI) study announced today.
While previous studies have found that tetrahydrocannabinol, another cannabis compound known as THC, has properties found to inhibit cancer growth, the CPMCRI study is the first time that CBD has been shown to have a similar effect, medicinal marijuana group Americans for Safe Access reported.
“This pre-clinical research clearly demonstrates the therapeutic potential of marijuana’s active compounds,” said CPMCRI cannabinoid researcher Jahan Marcu, who is also on the Medical & Scientific Advisory Board of Americans for Safe Access (ASA). “The availability of a non-toxic substance that has the potential to fight breast cancer and likely other forms of cancer is of tremendous importance.”
Despite mounting evidence verifying the medical efficacy of smoked marijuana and it’s isolated compounds, the federal government continues to obstruct scientific research in this field, ASA claimed.
In the last 20 years, the FDA has approved only three studies using plant-derived marijuana or its constituent compounds, forcing researchers such as CPMCRI to use synthetic versions.
One reason for a lack of US research using naturally derived marijuana is that scientists must obtain it from the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), which has a stated disinterest in the investigation of marijuana’s therapeutic qualities, ASA alleges.
"It’s time for NIDA and the federal government to end the monopoly on research cannabis," said Caren Woodson, Director of Government Affairs for ASA. "This study should compel our government to do everything in its power to conduct the long-overdue research recommended by the 1999 Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine report."
The CBD compound used by CPMCRI for the study was synthetic due to the complications of obtaining research cannabis, but, compounds extracted from the marijuana plant are far cheaper and would be easier to acquire for the purpose of research if a competitive source of research grade marijuana were available, ASA points out.
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