Senator Ted Kennedy had undergone a surgery for malignant glioma, a fatal type of brain tumor in 2008. Kennedy had managed to put a brave face after his surgery although he would still undergo at least 4 to 6 weeks of radiation therapy and repeated chemotherapy every eight weeks depending on his response.
On the other hand, supporters of medical marijuana claimed that there might be other alternatives for treatment of gliomas and some other cancers and that the government might know something about those alternatives. In a review of preclinical and clinical studies, which evaluated the potential link between smoking marijuana and cancer treatment had findings that the use of cannabinoids may be useful as anti-cancer agents. At least 30 separate trials as well as literature reviews had been focused on the potential therapeutic effect of smoking marijuana and cancer treatment.
Many people may not be familiar with such scientific researches; however, the government may be behind the “secrecy.” In 1974, an experiment that focused on the possible anti-cancer effects of smoking marijuana and cancer treatment was done at the Medical College of Virginia at the knowledge and directive of federal officials.
A report on the findings of the experiment was featured at the Washington Post newspaper, which stated that the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, THC, had slowed the growth of cancers in lungs and breasts. More so, the experiment had also indicated a slowed growth in a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, prolonging their lives by 36%. The preliminary findings on the link between smoking marijuana and cancer were published in 1975 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Although it had presented favorable possibilities, the United States government had continued to refuse the authorization of a follow-up investigation. It was only in the 1990s that the United States National Toxicology Program conducted a preclinical trial on the same study. The study was done secretly and cost $2 million. It had concluded that the laboratory rats and mice used, which were applied with high doses of THC over long periods, yielded greater protection against tumors compared to untreated controls.
On the other hand, in spite of the favorable findings on the link between marijuana and cancer treatment, the government had kept the results from the public until a draft copy was leaked to the AIDS Treatment News. The medical journal had then forwarded the findings to the national media. The United States government is yet to authorize an additional study since the National Toxicology trial was completed. The additional study should be able to examine the potential capability of marijuana to cure cancer through its potential anti-cancer properties. It is necessary to ask permission from the federal government before any clinical research can be done on smoking marijuana and cancer treatment since the drug is considered a schedule I controlled substance; thus, it has an illegal status.
