Anticancer Properties of Acidic Cannabinoids + Raw Cannabis | Research and Human Cases
Most of the research and patient experience with cannabinoids and cancer have focused on the neutral, heated versions of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. However, the cannabis plant does not actually produce these. Instead, the plant makes acidic cannabinoids like THCA and CBDA, which primarily become converted into their neutral counterparts after being heated. While the research is early, what does exist is promising.
An extensive study looking at the ability of different cannabinoids to inhibit reproduction of numerous types of cancer cells was carried out in 2006 by a team of researchers in Italy. The chart below lists the IC50 values of several cannabinoids. In this case, IC50 indicates the quantity of cannabinoids needed to reduce reproduction of cancer cells by 50%, so lower numbers mean greater potency. Columns where the value is >25 means that the maximum concentration tested was not capable of inhibiting proliferation by 50%. Ultimately, the only important thing to know here is that lower numbers reflect improved efficiency.
The types of cancer cells tested against were breast, glioma, prostate, thyroid, colorectal, another type of breast, leukemia, and gastric. In most cases here, THCA was actually a stronger inhibitor of proliferation than THC, as indicated by lower IC50 values in most columns. However, for colon and gastric cancer cells, THC was stronger. The overall point here is that THCA appears quite effective, yet despite this study being conducted so long though, there still hasn’t been much further exploration of THCA.
Interestingly, CBDA was shown to be the weakest cannabinoid, as nearly all columns show the maximum tested amount did not inhibit proliferation by 50%. However, later studies have pointed to particular potential for CBDA against breast cancer. In 2020, Japanese researchers with Hiroshima International University showed the extensive mechanisms by which CBDA could inhibit expression of the COX-2 enzyme in breast cancer cells, a positive effect given that increased expression is linked with malignancy.
Earlier in 2012, other Japanese researchers with Daiichi University of Pharmacy showed that CBDA could mitigate breast cancer cell migration, and thus potentially limit metastasis. They concluded, “CBDA offers potential therapeutic modality in the abrogation of cancer cell migration, including aggressive breast cancers.
There is also emerging research on the “mother cannabinoid”, CBGA, from which all other cannabinoids are produced by enzymatic transformation. Researchers with Wroclaw Medical University and Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland showed that increasing concentrations of CBGA over 48 hours led to progressively lower numbers of live colon cancer cells. This is consistent with the general observation of dose-dependent effects of cannabinoids.
While this is promising, there is far less human evidence of acidic cannabinoids working in humans. However, I was actually inspired to make this video because of a fascinating report by Peter Vermeul, who photographically documented remission of a basal cell carcinoma on his forearm using a topical THCA/CBDA extract externally and 9 drops per day of a CBDA-dominant extract internally. Peter founded a CBD company in Spain where he produces acidic cannabinoid-dominant products, and has shared a lot of incredible information on LinkedIn, where I found him.
Peter also shared information about a patient he worked with who had prostate cancer. His post is below:
As always, we need more research, especially in the area of raw cannabis. However, for individuals who are not getting the results they want with THC/CBD products, it may be worth exploring acidic cannabinoids.
