Chemotheraphy, the standard treatment for most forms of cancer, is a rough process. It attacks cells that divide rapidly, which is how cancer cells behave. However, a side effect of this is the death of other rapidly-dividing cells like bone marrow and hair follicles. Still, it is regarded as one of the most effective treatments for cancer.

But recently, a number of cases suggest that THC–one of the main cannabinoids found in marijuana–similarly affects cancer cell growth. Back in 2007, a study by researchers at Harvard University showed that THC could cut lung cancer tumor growth rates in half. This was true for both lab tests and study on mice. Cannabis Culture reported: “According to the researchers, THC fights lung cancer by curbing epidermal growth factor (EGF), a molecule that promotes the growth and spread of particularly aggressive non-small cell lung cancers.”

On Tuesday, Cannabis Science, Inc.–based out of Colorado Springs–sent out a press release to share new findings on the relationship between cannabis and cancer. They report that a patient, after regular topical application of a cannabis extract from the company, has seen the “dramatic shrinkage” of a cancer tumor. A series of photos, included in a release by Dr. Robert Melamede of Cannabis Science, shows the disappearance of a lesion on the patient’s face after just ten days of cannabis extract-based treatment.

Many past studies suggest the same thing: cannabis could indeed provide an effective treatment for cancer patients. Much of the related research has been performed on rodents or on isolated cancer cells, but it all points to the possibility that, one day, cannabis-based treatments could replace the painful and expensive process of chemotherapy.

The following video cites some of the aforementioned studies and offers a bit more evidence about the links between cancer recession and marijuana:

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All the more reason to reschedule–or even legalize–pot. This would allow researchers to further study its effects on cancers and a number of other maladies that could be treated with THC.

Austin Wulf is a freelance writer and cannabis activist. Read more of his THC-infused coverage of the pot industry. Want more updates? Follow @Cannabytes303 on Twitter.