Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the central chemical components of hemp and other cannabis plants.  CBD has no psychoactive properties and scientists all over the world are discovering just how powerful this cannabinoid is.  One of the major interests in CBD is in its ability to treat cancer. Recently, cannabidiol has been proven to have cytostatic (inhibits cell growth and division), apoptotic (cell death) and antiangiogenic (stops blood flow) properties against cancer cells.

Neuroblastoma (NBL) is one of the most Common Childhood cancers.  The prognosis for advanced stage NBL is poor, and survivors will often experience long-term multi-organ disorders. In 2016, teams of researchers from multiple universities in Israel collaborated to study the effects of CBD both in vivo and in vitro.  They found that tumor cells treated with CBD reduced viability and invasiveness, as well as, inducing apoptosis on the cancer cells.  They also noted that CBD treatment had an anti-tumourigenic effect on the NBL cells, counteracting the formation of tumors. The research abstract concluded with the statement: “Because CBD is a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid that appears to be devoid of side effects, our results support its exploitation as an effective anticancer drug in the management of NBL.”

While more research is welcome, it is clear the cannabidiol deserves a place in today’s arsenal of cancer treatments.  The study above, along with many others, continue to prove CBD’s effectiveness as an anti-cancer therapy option.

To read more about the study mentioned above, click here.