Studies “consistently show” that the non-intoxicating marijuana component CBD is a potential “anticancer agent across different cancer types”—and that effect applies to dogs as well as humans, according to a new systemic review of the scientific literature.
Numerous studies investigated the effects of cannabis on cancer symptoms. This new article published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science examines that preclinical study, which indicates CBD “inhibits cell proliferation and migrates, while inducing apoptosis in different human tumor cells.”
Canine cannabidiol effects have been studied less thoroughly than humans. It’s not surprising that cannabidiol is well-tolerated and safe by dogs.
The authors wrote that “since 2015 some studies have evaluated CBD in various types of cancers of dogs,” but no “comprehensive review” of the findings had been done.
They said that they conducted a systemic review in order to gather the evidence about the anticancer properties of CBD for dogs. Their analysis revealed that most preclinical research, which is based largely on cell models, tends to focus on cancers such as lymphoma and mammary carcinoma, as well glioma cancer, prostate cancer osteosarcoma and urothelial cancer.
This review noted that CBD has antiproliferative, proapoptotic properties. In some instances this is achieved by modulating intracellular pathways. Some studies also evaluated CBD in combination with other drugs and reported both antagonistic and synergistic effects.
The findings indicate that CBD has the potential to be an effective anticancer treatment for a wide range of cancers. But further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of CBD, standardize the concentrations and formulations to enable reliable, comparable outcomes, and develop clinical studies that evaluate the role of CBD CBD in canine Oncology.
This review is based on a large body of research on cannabis’ therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer.
For example, another recent scientific review found that CBD “holds substantial promise as an anti-tumor agent” in addition to its other anti-inflammatory properties.
Scientists explored CBD’s effect on many types of cancer—including some of the most aggressive ones, such as glioblastoma, which affects the brain. It can also help to suppress other cancers including those of the breast, lung and colorectal.
In 2025, 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.
In a sign of greater acceptance of medical applications of cannabis, President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as the next White House drug czar has called medical marijuana a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill patients and said she doesn’t object to legalization, even if she might not personally agree with the policy.
Also last year, a study found that “patients with cancer using cannabis report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms.”
A case study published in the journal Veterinary Medicine and Science last year suggested that small doses (less than 0.1%) of LSD could reduce a dog’s separation anxiety by reducing its destructive behavior and lowering the duration of their vocalizations.
the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) promoted a study in 2024 that it said shows CBD is “safe for long-term use” in dogs—a significant finding given emerging research that cannabis can effectively treat conditions such as anxiety and certain skin diseases among canines.
Another 2024 case study found that cannabis appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease, especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies.