Cannabis in the Treatment of Various Cancers and its Current Global Scenario

Abstract

Cannabis has been used as a drug for centuries, possibly much longer before it was recognised as an illegal substance. The prime psychoactive property is marked on the 9-THC compound. The cannabinoids replicate the action of endocannabinoids by stimulating receptors in the central nervous system and lymphatic system via diligent CB1 and CB2, respectively. Cannabinoids, on the other hand, are well known for their dependency, which is less severe than that of other drugs that can be abused. Cannabis' anti-tumor and anti-cancer potential was only discovered at the turn of the twentieth century. Cannabis consumption has been reported to benefit patients with cancer by suppressing nausea, curbing vomiting, elevating appetite, alleviating pain, and pacifying anxiety. Studies envisage that the up-regulation of CB receptors and their associated endogenous ligands correlates with the suppression of tumours. Patients have found cannabis to be effective in reducing side effects and relieving pain when used in conjunction with chemotherapy. Though cannabis prescription is restricted under federal laws in many countries, its lucrative efficacy profile has pushed regulators to reconsider its use in medical causes such as cancer. This chapter is an attempt to emphasise the biological role of cannabis in cancer pathophysiology