Cannabis for leukemia

Reviewed by Gavin Moreland, MD | Written by Dipak Hemraj | Last updated on Nov 5, 2025
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1 min read

Leukemia is a type of cancer that forms in the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Most types of leukemia involve an overproduction of improperly-functioning white blood cells, crowding out red blood cells and reducing oxygen supply. There are many types of leukemia, some more prevalent in children, others in adults. Latest figures show that the 5-year survival rate for all subtypes of leukemia is 61.4 percent.

Cannabinoids seem to be particularly effective in treating blood cancers like leukemia. An initial dose of chemotherapy followed by a mixture of cannabinoids (both THC and CBD) can cause apoptosis of cancer cells more effectively than chemotherapy alone, at least according to lab studies. Case studies have shown similar effects, but more clinical trials are needed.

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Clinical Trial

1

Laboratory Study

24

Meta-analysis

16

Total studies

Cannabis for leukemia

41

Positive

31 studies

76%

Negative

6 studies

15%

Inconclusive

4 studies

10%

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