Federal Employees Couldn’t Get Medical Marijuana Covered By Workers’ Comp Under Bill Advancing In Congress
California Marijuana Regulators Unveil New AI Tool To Prevent Product Packaging That May Appeal To Kids
Top Kentucky GOP Lawmaker Wants State Officials Prosecuted For Abiding By Governor’s Medical Marijuana Expansion Order
Virginia Governor Touts ‘Productive’ Negotiations On Bill To Legalize Marijuana Sales This Month
Legal Marijuana States Are Moving To Increase Possession Limits, Allowing Consumers To Carry More Cannabis Without Fear Of Criminalization
Marijuana Extracts ‘Meaningfully’ Improve Cancer Patients’ Symptoms Such As Sleep Trouble And Anxiety, Study Shows
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Marijuana Components Have ‘Consistent’ Anti-Tumor Effects In Glioblastoma And Other Cancers, Scientific Review Shows
Another Study Debunks Lazy Stoner Stereotype, Linking Marijuana Use To An Increase In Some Kinds Of Exercise
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WNBA Removes Marijuana From Banned Substances List And Sets Rules For Player Endorsements Of Hemp CBD Products
Americans Say Marijuana Is Less Cool Than Math And Country Music—But Is Cooler Than Guns Or Cryptocurrency, Survey Shows
Politicians And Major Brands Celebrate Cannabis Culture On 4/20
Woody Harrelson And Bill Maher Complain That Marijuana Taxes Are Too High While Smoking Joints At The Dispensary They Own Together
Federal Labor Decision Inspires More Missouri Marijuana Workers To Seek Unionization
Missouri Marijuana Workers Win Union Vote After Federal Officials Reject Company’s Argument On Blocking Ballots
Target Is Launching Hemp THC Drink Sales In Three Of The U.S.’s Most Populous States
Target Expands Involvement In Hemp THC Drinks Market With 72 New Licenses In Minnesota
Marijuana Sales Are Rising And Alcohol Is On The Decline As Consumer Preferences Evolve, Government Data In Canada Shows
VA gov has “productive” cannabis legalization conversations with lawmakers (Newsletter: June 10, 2026)
State cannabis officials work to educate World Cup visitors (Newsletter: June 9, 2026)
White House pushes Congress to keep some hemp products legal (Newsletter: June 8, 2026)
WNBA takes cannabis off banned list & sets player endorsement rules (Newsletter: June 5, 2026)
Wisconsin governor candidates pledge cannabis action if elected (Newsletter: June 4, 2026)
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Medical marijuana extracts “meaningfully” improve cancer-related symptoms such as sleep difficulties and anxiety—though responses varied among patients depending on personal preferences for individual cannabinoid content of the extracts—according to a new study
Researchers at the University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, University of Manitoba and Queen’s University investigated the impact of extracts containing different concentrations of THC and CBD on common cancer symptoms.
The randomized, placebo-controlled, triple blind study found that, overall, medical marijuana oil extracts “can be meaningfully beneficial for cancer-related symptoms in approximately 50 percent of patients, particularly for sleep and related symptoms.”
The research involved THC-dominant, CBD-dominant and 1:1 oil extracts, as well as a placebo. Notably, it found that the “most helpful extract differed between individuals,” and no single extract type was “routinely better than the others on average.”
There was “no significant preference of one extract over another on average, but a clear preference between extracts for most individuals.”
Regardless of a patient’s primary symptom, about half of participants saw improvements with respect to sleep, anxiety and daytime tiredness. Also, 66 percent of patients expressed a personal preference for an extract with an active cannabinoid as opposed to a placebo.
“Fifty-six percent of the 89 participants with complete Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) data reported at least a 1.4-point improvement compared to placebo with at least one extract,” the study authors said. “Subgroup analysis showed response rates of 50 percent for the pain, 47 percent for sleep, and 60 percent for anxiety subgroup.”
“More than half of participants experienced a clinically meaningful benefit over placebo with at least one type of cannabis extract.”
The treatment further found that 2.5 milligrams of THC and CBD extract three times daily was “well-tolerated.” However, “personalization of treatment is required to optimize response.”
“Though it would be convenient to be able to recommend a single agent for everyone, this would clearly not meet the needs of a diverse population,” the study said.
“Our finding that no preparation was better than the others on average, but most participants found one to provide greater benefit individually may further explain why trials that focus on a single preparation may have underestimated the potential benefit of cannabinoids. Restricting patients to a single extract ignores the known heterogeneity in endocannabinoid physiology.”
The study builds upon an expanding body of scientific literature exploring the therapeutic efficacy of cannabis in cancer treatment.
For example, a recent scientific review found that components of marijuana show “consistent and statistically significant anti-tumor effects” in certain types of cancer, including glioblastoma and breast cancer. It also found cannabinoids seem to “enhance chemotherapy efficacy.”
Another systemic review concluded that studies “consistently show” that the CBD is a potential “anticancer agent across different cancer types”—and that effect applies to dogs as well as humans.
A similar analysis showed that CBD “holds substantial promise as an anti-tumor agent” in addition to its other anti-inflammatory properties.
Scientists explored CBD’s effect on many types of cancer—including some of the most aggressive ones, such as glioblastoma, which affects the brain. They also noted it can help suppressing the growth and metastasis of other cancers, including breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian and prostate, among others.
In 2025, a paper published in the journal Pharmacology & Therapeutics, assessed a range of clinical and preclinical findings that the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced by medical marijuana.
In a sign of greater acceptance of medical applications of cannabis, President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as the next White House drug czar has called medical marijuana a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill patients and said she doesn’t object to legalization, even if she might not personally agree with the policy.
Also last year, a study found that “patients with cancer using cannabis report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms.”
Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 25-year veteran in the cannabis and drug law reform movement, he covers the policy, politics, science and culture of marijuana, psychedelics and other substances. He previously reported for Forbes, Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and was given the Hunter S. Thompson Media Award by NORML and has been named Journalist of the Year by Americans for Safe Access. As an activist, Tom founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority and handled media relations, campaigns and lobbying for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
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