Does Marijuana Cure Cancer?
Published: February 15, 2021 · Last reviewed on this site: 2026-10-30
This answer may be out of date. It was published over 3 years ago. Health guidance changes — check with a doctor or trusted adult.
The question
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Does marijuana cure cancer? Why else would people take it when they are sick?
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The answer
Marijuana does not cure cancer. It can be used to help patients being treated for cancer with the side effects of it as well as its treatments. The [American Cancer Society explains that some treatments for cancer can make people feel sick, nauseous, and/or have a lot of pain. This could be very harmful knowing that each person needs their nutrients to stay strong and fight off infection. Some studies have shown that marijuana in cancer patients helps people feel less nauseous.
In addition, there has been some studies that show that using marijuana can help reduce the pain that some patients feel as a side effect of cancer and some treatments. It is important to note that using marijuana in combination with cancer is determined by a doctor and the patient. There still needs to be a lot of research done to determine how effective marijuana is in helping people with cancer.
TeenHealthFX cannot diagnose or treat over the internet. We strongly advise anyone who is considering marijuana and has been diagnosed with cancer to discuss with their doctor BEFORE using it.