A new review of scientific literature suggests that cannabidiol, the non-intoxicating component in marijuana, is “substantially promising as an antitumor agent”, in addition to other anti-inflammatory effects.
Scientists explored CBD’s effect on many types of cancer—including some of the most aggressive ones, such as glioblastoma, which affects the brain. The researchers also found that CBD can suppress the growth of cancer, such as breast, lung and colorectal.
The researchers found CBD to have anti-tumor activity by affecting key cancer characteristics.
The National Natural Science Fund of China funded the paper as an evaluation of past studies on CBD’s ability to fight cancer.
Many researchers are interested in how cancer cells can survive when they hijack normal biological signals such as growth cues and stress responses, or immune pathways. Researchers found that CBD does not seem to focus on just one of the systems, but rather nudges them all at once. It pushes cancer cells into collapse via overlapping effects.
CBD can interfere with the GPR55 receptor in colon cancer model, causing tumors to migrate and grow. By blocking this receptor, cancer cells are less likely to multiply quickly and can be more sensitive to chemotherapy. In other experiments, CBD was shown to reduce genes associated with aggressive growth and activate pathways related to stress that would slow down the process.
The response to breast and lung cancers is similar, but slightly different. In non-small cell lung cancer, combinations of CBD and THC reduce tumor growth by interfering with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the process that allows cancer cells to spread. CBD was shown to activate autophagy in models of breast cancer, which is the internal recycling system that destroys cells.
CBD, an FDA-approved compound that is well tolerated, has antitumor benefits by inhibiting the growth of cancer, its metastasis, angiogenesis and alleviating other cancer symptoms like pain and nausea.
There are, of course, also some challenges. When CBD is taken orally, it is not absorbed well and heavily metabolized. Only a tiny fraction of the drug may make its way to tumor tissue. Scientists are working on nanoparticle delivery systems to overcome this problem. They aim to increase absorption and target cancers with greater precision, while minimizing side effects.
Researchers say that in the future, progress depends on methodical and careful work. Tools such as single-cell sequencers could clarify how different tumor population respond to CBD. Clinical trials that are well designed will be necessary to confirm whether CBD’s effects in the lab can translate into benefit for patients.
Researchers from medical schools in China who contributed to the study noted that it was important to continue exploring the anti-tumor potential of CBD.
They wrote: “Future studies must stratify patients based on tumor types and molecular marks to establish correlations among dosing and timing and effectiveness.” This article, which has not been peer-reviewed, will be published in the issue of Phytomedicine, December 2025.
The study is the latest in a long line of positive discoveries made about CBD.
In 2025, for example, a paper published in the journal Pharmacology & Therapeutics, assessed a range of clinical and preclinical findings that the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced by medical marijuana.
As a signal of greater acceptance for medical cannabis applications, Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next White House Drug Czar called medical marijuana “a fantastic” option of treatment for severely ill patients. She also said that she does not object to its legalization even though she may disagree with it personally.
A study conducted last year found that patients with cancer who use cannabis experience significant improvement in their cancer symptoms.