Medical Marijuana and Mesothelioma

Using Marijuana for Pain & Treatment Side Effects

Although the sale and use of marijuana as a recreational substance is a federal offense in the U.S., as of May 2024, it is approved in 24 states and the District of Columbia for recreational use and in 38 states for medicinal purposes — particularly for treating pain associated with cancer and for nausea and loss of appetite associated with chemotherapy treatment.

Patients with mesothelioma cope with symptoms of the disease and side effects of cancer treatment such as chest pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea. A number of clinical trials found evidence that medical marijuana may help some patients manage cancer-related symptoms and side effects of cancer treatment.

As with all forms of herbal medicine, patients should consult with their oncologist before using this type of complementary treatment because it may interfere with conventional treatments.

Benefits and Side Effects of Medical Marijuana

In clinical trials, medical marijuana was found effective for a range of symptoms associated with cancer treatment. Despite its benefits, medical marijuana may also cause side effects.

Patients report that side effects are generally mild, but vary depending on the strain of marijuana and how much is consumed. Researchers have not reported benefits or side effects of marijuana as a treatment for mesothelioma.

Scientific Research on Medical Marijuana in Cancer Care

Most of the scientific research on medical marijuana in cancer care has happened outside of the U.S. because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Growing support for the legalization of medical marijuana may promote cancer research in the future, but current research is limited in the U.S.

Global research efforts have increased in recent years because of a growing interest in the potential role of medical marijuana in cancer care. The research extends beyond the well-known tetrahydrocannabinol chemical, known as THC, to include other compounds, such as CBD, collectively known as cannabinoids.

Research on Cancer Symptoms and Treatment Side Effects

The bulk of medical research on medical marijuana and cancer has focused on how the herb may help patients cope with cancer symptoms and side effects of treatment. Different types of cancer-related pain, nausea, vomiting and sleep quality improved for a significant portion of participants in a number of studies.

The Cochrane review also reported that marijuana controlled nausea and vomiting just as well as conventional anti-nausea drugs, and the patients who received both preferred marijuana over anti-nausea drugs. However, patients receiving marijuana were more likely to drop out of the trials because of side effects (such as dizziness or sedation) than patients receiving placebos or anti-nausea drugs.

Research on Medical Marijuana for Anti-Cancer Therapy

The research has looked at marijuana not only as a means to control cancer symptoms and treatment side effects but also as an anti-cancer therapy. Studies in test tubes and mice indicate that several types of cancer may respond to cannabis as an anti-cancer therapy. Some cancer cells die when exposed to cannabinoids, and some stop spreading.

It appears that certain cancer cells have cannabinoid receptors, but the precise function remains largely unknown. There isn’t enough research to know if marijuana affects mesothelioma tumor progression. Some mesothelioma survivors have used medical marijuana after conventional anti-cancer treatment and believe it contributed to their survival.

Cannabinoids May Promote Tumor Growth

It is important to note some laboratory research indicates cannabinoids may promote tumor growth in certain cancers. For example, a 2004 test tube study published in Cancer Research found THC promoted the growth of lung cancer and glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.

A 2005 test tube study published in The Journal of Immunology found THC enhanced the growth and spreading of breast cancer. In 2000, the same journal published a study on mice with lung cancer and found THC accelerated tumor growth by limiting parts of the immune system that control cancer.

Further research in humans is required to fully understand how the chemicals in marijuana affect different types of cancer.

Edible Medical Marijuana

Patients with mesothelioma or lung cancer have weakened lungs and experience trouble breathing. For these patients, consuming edible marijuana may be preferable to smoking it to avoid aggravation of lung tissues.

There are some differences between smoked and edible marijuana. When marijuana is inhaled, the effects are felt almost immediately. When eaten, it takes longer to take effect because of the digestive process. The effect can take from 20 minutes to two or more hours to be fully felt, but the average time is around 90 minutes.

Many patients find the psychoactive effects of edible marijuana are milder and the body relief is stronger. This is sometimes more effective for cancer patients who seek relief from physical symptoms. The effects may also last longer.

For patients who are watching calories, fat or sugar, there are alternatives to heavy baked goods. Tinctures are placed under the tongue for a short amount of time and then swallowed. According to some patients, the effect of tinctures is less sedating than edibles made with cannabis butter, and it is absorbed more quickly. Cannabis capsules usually contain a mix of cannabis and other oils, or other oils infused with cannabis. Patients take these like they would any other pill.

For patients who don’t prefer edibles, topical marijuana products are becoming more widely available. Topical products are primarily used to reduce body pain and inflammation in the area they are applied. This may help mesothelioma patients experiencing cancer-related pain such as chest pain or bone pain caused by growing tumors. Some states that haven’t enacted medical marijuana laws allow the sale of non-psychoactive cannabinoid products such as CBD topical creams.

Synthetic THC

Since marijuana is not readily available to many patients, drug companies have developed synthetic versions of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Patients who have tried synthetic and natural versions of marijuana often say marijuana in its natural form is more effective for symptom relief than the synthetic variety. Marinol and Cesamet can also have serious side effects that aren’t a risk with natural THC, including seizures, irregular heartbeat, vision changes, headaches and severe or persistent dizziness.

Regulation and Legalization of Medical Marijuana

Regulations on marijuana began in the early 1900s. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act classified marijuana as a Schedule I substance having “no accepted medical use.”

The country’s attitude toward medical marijuana began to shift in the late 1970s. In 1978, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supplied seven patients with marijuana after their physicians applied for the Expanded Access (compassionate use) program.

In 1991, 53% of oncologists agreed that marijuana should be available by prescription and 66% said it helped cancer patients treat the side effects of chemotherapy.

The New England Journal of Medicine published an editorial calling for the rescheduling of marijuana in 1997. In 2008, the American College of Physicians stated that it supported non-smoked THC. The organization also called for an exemption from criminal prosecution for patients.

States That Have Legalized Recreational Marijuana

Recreational marijuana became legal to purchase in Colorado and Washington in 2014. Since then, a total of 24 states, 3 territories and the District of Columbia have approved recreational marijuana.

The legalization of recreational marijuana in these states involved removing prohibitions against the use, possession and sale of cannabis for non-medical purposes. Proponents say it reduces crime, generates tax revenue, allows better regulation and makes it more accessible to patients without a necessary prescription. Opponents raise concerns about the potential health impacts and increased usage, particularly among young people.

States That Have Legalized Medical Marijuana

After California legalized the drug in 1996, other states followed. Presently, 38 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have legalized medical marijuana.

State	Possession Limit
Alabama	70 daily dosages at one time
Alaska	1 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
Arizona	2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
Arkansas	2.5 oz usable per 14-day period
California	8 oz usable; 6 mature or 12 immature plants
Colorado	2 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
Connecticut	2.5 oz usable
District of Columbia	2 oz useable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
Delaware	6 oz usable
Florida	35-day supply (amount not specified)
Hawaii	4 oz usable; 10 plants
Illinois	2.5 oz of usable cannabis during a 14-day period
Kentucky	30-day supply
Louisiana	30-day supply
Maine	2.5 oz usable; 6 plants
Maryland	30-day supply; no more than 120 grams (approximately 4 oz)
Massachusetts	60-day supply (10 oz)
Michigan	2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
Minnesota	30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana
Mississippi	3 oz per month
Missouri	6 oz per month
Montana	1 oz usable; 4 plants (mature); 12 seedlings
Nevada	2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
New Hampshire	2 oz of usable cannabis during a 10-day period
New Jersey	2 oz usable
New Mexico	6 oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature)
New York	30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana
North Dakota	3 oz per 14-day period
Ohio	Maximum of a 90-day supply; amount to be determined
Oklahoma	8 oz in a residence; 3 oz in public
Oregon (only state to accept out-of-state applications)	24 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)
Pennsylvania	30-day supply
Rhode Island	2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
South Dakota	3 oz
Utah	113 grams of unprocessed cannabis
Vermont	2 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)
Virginia	4 oz per 30-day period
Washington	8 oz usable; 6 plants
West Virginia	30-day supply

Medical marijuana laws establish systems for cultivating, distributing and prescribing cannabis to people with specific conditions. Each state has different laws on which medical conditions qualify, but in general, people with cancer are eligible in each of these states.

Consult Your Oncologist About Medical Marijuna

If you live in a state that offers medical marijuana, ask your oncologist how it might benefit or interfere with your treatment plan. People assume it couldn’t hurt to take a natural substance, but cannabis products contain antioxidants that may protect cancer cells from the wanted effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

This means certain types of medical marijuana might have the potential to block your anti-cancer treatments from working properly. Your oncologist is your best resource for guidance on this matter.

A number of mesothelioma survivors have said they spoke with their doctor before using medical marijuana as a complementary therapy to conventional treatment, which is known as integrative oncology.

While research shows medical marijuana may help cancer patients cope with pain, nausea, anxiety, lack of appetite and insomnia, it is best to discuss how you want to use marijuana with your doctor to get their approval first and make sure you take the right product, at the right time, without interfering with your treatment plan.

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