# Marijuana Cures Cancer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 29, 2013, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486 "2013-08-29T10:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/61 "2013-09-01T01:44:14Z")
> [@jsutter](#): > > It does, and I speak from experience. > > Been toking steady since '65. In 2007, I had a squamous invader excised from my left ankle. Two weeks ago, I had another removed from my right. I cruised for a week on beer, weed and Oxycodone, copay, $0 for the procedure and the Oxy, a bit more for the beer, etc. After factoring in the services of my personable surgeon, anesthesiologist and prep staff, it’s clear that marijuana cured me of cancer. > > Am I in the right forum? > > Aloha > [@runner pat](#): > > If it cured cancer, how did you get the first tumor? Or the second? > > A cure is not final with cancer until several years have passed. It’s not just cut it out and you’re done. In fact, how can any of us be sure that the marijuana didn’t **cause** , or at least contribute to these cancers? This certainly seems much more likely than that they cured these cancers. If the OP’s use of marijuana was going to cure cancer, then surely, it would have prevented the cancer in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![jsutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jsutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsutter)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/62 "2013-09-01T02:01:16Z")
> [@Bob\_Blaylock](#): > > In fact, how can any of us be sure that the marijuana didn’t **cause** , or at least contribute to these cancers? This certainly seems much more likely than that they cured these cancers. If the OP’s use of marijuana was going to cure cancer, then surely, it would have prevented the cancer in the first place. Maybe not. But I have already recanted. See post above. Aloha ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/63 "2013-09-01T02:06:18Z")
I heard a rumor that pussy juice heals cancer … perhaps if I toked a joint at the same time it could actually double the effects of healing. Good volunteers for my study are so hard to find, plus I don’t even have cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/64 "2013-09-01T02:10:20Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Hey, I embrace having my beliefs disproved. How else can we grow? > > I’ve already had to recant my beliefs that estrogen is good for most post-menopausal women, that Vitamin E in megadoses helps people with infectious hepatitis, and that really tight control of glucose levels helps diabetics more than it harms them. > > I can’t wait to find out what I’m wrong about next! And admit it. Finding out marijuana cures cancer would be a hell of a lot more fun than the ones you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/65 "2013-09-01T02:11:21Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I heard a rumor that pussy juice heals cancer … perhaps if I toked a joint at the same time it could actually double the effects of healing. > > Good volunteers for my study are so hard to find, plus I don’t even have cancer. That’s okay. We’ll put you in the control group. ---
**Author:** ![jsutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jsutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsutter)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/66 "2013-09-01T02:20:19Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > That’s okay. We’ll put you in the control group. Alohahaha. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/67 "2013-09-01T02:27:34Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I heard a rumor that pussy juice heals cancer … perhaps if I toked a joint at the same time it could actually double the effects of healing. > > Good volunteers for my study are so hard to find, plus I don’t even have cancer. That _proves_ it works! ---
**Author:** ![jsutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jsutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsutter)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/68 "2013-09-02T23:58:06Z")
Offered for you comment. > **[Harvard Study Shows “Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half”](http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/09/harvard-study-shows-marijuana-cuts-lung-cancer-tumor-growth-in-half.html)** > > (ScienceDaily) The active ingredient in marijuana cuts tumor growth in common lung cancer in half and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread, say researchers at Harvard University who tested the chemical in both lab and mouse... Aloha Check out some the sidebar links, while you’re at it. Aloha ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/69 "2013-09-03T00:09:55Z")
> [@jsutter](#): > > Offered for you comment. Comments? Sure. The site overstates its case and is just another example of very poor science reporting. The Harvard study it cites was a valid study, but the authors of that study, as proper scientists, were careful about their conclusions. The people summarizing that study were not. So, what did the study say? First, it was done in mice. That’s not unusual, as mice are initially used in many medical trials. Many important medical discoveries are made in mice. The problem? Not everything that works in mice works in humans (and vice-versa). Sure, it’s a potentially promising result, but it doesn’t actually say anything about the corresponding result in humans. Yet. Next, the authors themselves noted that the use of THC has been shown in other animal studies to **promote** the development of tumors. Again, what happens in animals doesn’t say anything about the corresponding result in humans. Yet. Next, the use of THC didn’t _cure_ anything - it was correlated with an inhibition in tumor growth in this particular case. The mice **still had cancer**. But it didn’t spread as fast. Again, what happens in animals doesn’t say anything about the corresponding result in humans. Yet. Finally, why be so coy? Summarize the result for yourself. If you think this provides any actual evidence to support your claims, it doesn’t. In the best possible case, it just means THC use retarded the growth of tumors, not that it actually reduced tumor size at all. ---
**Author:** ![jsutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jsutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsutter)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/70 "2013-09-03T00:13:44Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Comments? Sure. > > The site overstates its case and is just another example of very poor science reporting. > … Noted. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486/71 "2013-09-03T00:14:25Z")
> [@jsutter](#): > > Offered for you comment. > > [Harvard Study Shows “Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half”](http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/09/harvard-study-shows-marijuana-cuts-lung-cancer-tumor-growth-in-half.html) > > Aloha > > Check out some the sidebar links, while you’re at it. > > Aloha One study does not a cure make. Only THC was studied and the mice did not smoke pot. Instead, it was administered in a lab setting not the real world. Can you find a more recent study or a follow-up? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-cures-cancer/667486.md?page=3)