Medical cannabis is not a direct treatment for cancer. It cannot reduce or slow tumour growth, and should never be advertised as a healthy replacement for conventional oncology care. That said, medical cannabis treatment for cancer may offer some patients relief from chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, along with other conventional treatment side effects, and certain symptoms of cancer including cancer pain, anxiety, and depression.
Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, often abbreviated to CINV, is a common side effect that cancer patients have to deal with during chemotherapy treatment. The impact is often far heavier than you may experience during bouts of nausea and vomiting not relating to chemotherapy treatment, and while there are conventional pharmaceutical options that can be prescribed, they do not work for all cancer patients.
Releaf’s world-class clinical team is headed up by our Medical Director, Dr Sue Clenton. Dr Clenton is a specialist oncologist, with more than 20 years working in cancer care and previously served as the Medical Governance Lead for cancer services at her NHS trust.
24%
of adults with refractory CINV achieved complete control of CINV when THC:CBD was added to standard anti-sickness medication in a recent study.
Up to 70%
of people with cancer will feel or be sick at some point during chemotherapy, according to Cancer Research UK.
16%
more patients achieved complete control of CINV when THC:CBD was added to standard anti-sickness medication, compared with placebo.
403,000
people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK’s 2026 report.
Symptoms
Dehydration
Feeling weak
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting usually presents within the first 24 hours of treatment, but can be delayed, so if you are experiencing these symptoms, please speak to your doctor.
Treatment options:
Unfortunately, chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting is common when going through cancer treatment. There are a number of different techniques that can be used to manage CINV, and different medications that can be prescribed to alleviate its symptoms.
Aprepitant
Dexamethasone
Domperidone
Levomepromazine
Lorazepam
Metoclopramide
Nabilone
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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"Many patients find chemotherapy can cause nausea and vomiting as a side effect. Medical cannabis can reduce this side effect by interaction with the endocannabinoid system. As well as this medical cannabis can stimulate appetite and encourage a more normal diet intake for those on treatment. Medical cannabis can also relax patients and reduce the stress associated with cancer treatments."
Dr Sue Clenton
Oncology
09. 08. 2023
CBD is a medical cannabis cannabinoid that does not produce psychoactive effects. It has gained significant recognition for its potential health benefits, such as pain relief, anti-inflammatory properties, and the possible ability to help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. As a result, there is a growing interest in using CBD alongside chemotherapy as a complementary approach to cancer treatment.
09. 08. 2023
31. 07. 2023
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are distressing side effects commonly experienced by individuals undergoing chemotherapy. These symptoms can significantly impact the quality of life, overall health, and treatment outcomes for cancer patients. In recent years, there has been growing interest in exploring alternative and complementary therapies to manage CINV effectively. One such potential option is medical cannabis, and in particular, CBD oil. This is a rich source of cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant.
31. 07. 2023
Yes, for some patients, medical cannabis treatment may be an effective treatment option in reducing the impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It is not effective for every single cancer patient going through chemotherapy, nor is it considered a first line treatment option in the UK. But, if you have tried conventional treatment options for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and have found that they do not offer enough relief, medical cannabis may be your next option.
The nausea and vomiting that chemotherapy causes can make the chemotherapy itself far more difficult to tolerate, along with affecting your appetite, hydration, sleep and day-to-day quality of life. The aim of adding medical cannabis to a cancer CINV treatment plan is to reduce that impact, and it has also been shown to help some patients deal with cancer pain, along with the mental health toll that a cancer diagnosis can cause.
THC and CBD are the two major cannabinoids produced by cannabis plants. Our own bodies also produce cannabinoids, namely anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, often shortened to 2-AG.
All of these compounds can interact with and modulate the endocannabinoid system (along with other regulatory receptor systems), but do so in very distinct and individualised ways. The endocannabinoid system is the most widespread neuromodulatory network in the body and helps regulate appetite, sleep, mood, pain, digestion, and nausea, along with a huge range of other functions.
Chemotherapy can trigger feelings of nausea and the need to vomit through several pathways in the brain and gut. THC interacts directly with CB1 receptors, which are involved in these pathways, and may help reduce CINV for some patients. CBD works differently, and its role in chemotherapy-related nausea is less clear.
Medicines that offer patients access to cannabinoids will not help or be suitable for all cancer patients in the UK. They are only considered if and when conventional approaches fail to bring the level of symptom relief and control required, or if conventional treatments bring heavy side effects.
The NHS does offer one specific cannabis-based medicine (Nabilone) to help patients with CINV, but this comes with a few caveats:
Historically, the NHS has been very cautious with prescribing Nabilone, and patients have reported struggling to access the drug through the NHS
Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid medicine. This means it is made in a labratory, rather than extracted from a living cannabis plant. It mimics the effects of THC.
A licensed medicine has a marketing authorisation from the MHRA for a specific condition or use. It has been assessed by the relevant regulatory body on the evidence of its quality, efficacy, benefits, and potential risks.
Unlicensed medicines are still fully legal prescribable options here in the UK, but they do not have the same MHRA marketing authorisation for a specific medical application.
Specialist clinicians listed on the GMC Specialist Register can legally prescribe UK patients unlicensed cannabis-based medicines if they deem them to be clinically appropriate. This is totally legal and comes with a high level of regulatory oversight, and does not mean the products are illegal or poor quality. NHS specialists prescribe unlicensed CBPMs where clinically appropriate, but they very rarely do and access is extremely limited.
Plant-based medicines are difficult to licence as they contain a wide range of therapeutically active compounds, which can (and sometimes do) vary in composition. Licence applications usually require extensive clinical-trial evidence for one clearly defined product, dose and condition. This does not mean that medical cannabis is not an effective treatment option for some patients, just that the regulatory red-tape surrounding fully plant sourced medicines is more difficult for companies producing such medicines to navigate.
The UK’s specialist prescribing pathway allows clinicians to consider unlicensed cannabis-based products on a case-by-case basis, where clinically appropriate.
Yes, but it is not a first line treatment and should not replace conventional approaches. Your oncology team and prescribing specialist should have a clear picture of every treatment option you are taking, as cannabis-based medicines can interact with chemotherapy and other cancer drugs, which may affect how they work or increase the risk of side effects.
Specialists working with private medical cannabis clinics, like Releaf (the most trusted UK medical cannabis clinic), can prescribe a range of cannabis-based medicines in 2026. Not all clinics will offer the same range as us here at Releaf, but in general, if you are deemed suitable for medical cannabis treatment you may have access to:
Cannabis pastilles (THC/CBD-based edibles)
There is no single best cannabis product, strain or cannabinoid profile for chemo nausea. A specialist will assess your individual needs rather than relying on broad labels such as indica or sativa.
Head over to our how it works page to find out more.
Anyone aged over 18 who ticks yes to the following points may be eligible for a prescription with Releaf:
Has tried at least two conventional treatment options that have not been effective or caused heavy side effects
Has no personal history of psychosis or schizophrenia
Is not pregnant or breastfeeding
Has a chronic health condition that medical cannabis may help with
Every patient is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and a specialist consultation (along with other steps) is required before any prescription can be considered.
If you are interested in finding out more, head directly to our medical cannabis eligibility checker . It takes less than 30 seconds to complete, is cost and obligation free, and is the first step in securing a potential prescription for medical cannabis in the UK.
