Argumentative Essay On Cancer Therapy

As someone who has lost several loved ones to cancer, I have a profound interest in new ways to fight this terrible disease. If you have ever witnessed a person undergo chemotherapy as part of their cancer treatment, you know what a toll it can take on their body, immune system, and appetite. Thus, making it difficult to maintain the strength and willpower needed to fight. Although there has yet to be a cure discovered, recent studies have found Cannabis may be a viable solution in combating this horrible disease. Cannabis, most commonly referred to as marijuana, is obtained from the Cannabis Sativa plant, which produces a resin containing cannabinoids. Scientists have identified many cannabinoids, or biologically active components within the plant, that may have benefits to health and disease treatment. The two most studied are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (often referred to as THC), and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the part of the plant that gives the user a “high” feeling. It has also been found to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and act as an antioxidant. “CBD can help treat seizures, can reduce anxiety and paranoia, and can counteract the “high” caused by THC” (“Marijuana and Cancer”). With these facts known, what does this mean for cancer treatment? …show more content…
However, cannabis and cannabinoids have been studied clinically for their benefits to the side effects of cancer and its treatments, such as chemotherapy. Studies found that Cannabis could reduce bouts of nausea and vomiting, stimulate appetite, effectively reduce pain, improve mood, and reduce anxiety. While this is all promising news, and part of the reason that as of November 2016 marijuana is now legal in 28 states, what can happen to cancerous tumors when exposed to