Major Cannabis Cancer Study Planned In Canada

The B.C. Cancer Foundation will be using private donations to conduct a first of its kind study on cannabis’ effects on cancer symptoms in nine cities across Canada, according to The Vancouver Sun.

The trial will span 48 days and involve 150 patients from Vancouver, Abbotsford, Prince George, Victoria, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto. The trial seeks to prove whether cannabis helps cancer symptoms such as pain, sleep loss, anxiety and nausea.

The cannabis extracts to be used in the study were donated by Whistler Medical Marijuana Corp, which was recently purchased by Aurora Cannabis, one of the largest licensed producers in Canada. The study will cover extracts with both high CBD and high THC ratios, as well as 1:1 extracts.

Dr. Pippa Hawley, leader of the clinical trial, said, “My goal is to be able to provide a useful guide to patients and health care professionals. I want to be able to give them practical information about what could work.”

Dr. Hawley was previously involved with a clinical survey of 3,000 cancer patients. “That [survey] showed that cannabis use during treatment is widespread, for potential relief of symptoms related to treatment, or to cancer itself. This, in spite of the fact there is little or no scientific evidence into symptom and quality of life improvements.”

Hawley aims to fix that lack of evidence with the new study. Results are expected to be published in a medical journal by June, 2020.