Abstract

The plant Cannabis sativa has been in use medicinally for several thousand years. It has over
540 metabolites thought to be responsible for its therapeutic effects. Two of the key phytocannabinoids
are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Unlike THC, CBD does not have potentially
intoxicating effects. Preclinical and clinical research indicates that CBD has a wide range of therapeutic
effects, and many of them are relevant to the management of cancer. In this article, we explore some
of the potential mechanisms of action of CBD in cancer, and evidence of its efficacy in the integrative
management of cancer including the side effects associated with its treatment, demonstrating its
potential for integration with orthodox cancer care.