Does Marijuana Kill Melanoma?

While melanin colors our skin, the cells that produce this pigment are called melanocytes and this is where melanoma develops. Most skin cancers start in the epidermis, the top layer of skin. It is thought that exposure to sunlight and/or ultraviolet rays trigger the development of this deadly skin cancer, but the true cause is unclear.  Nonetheless, experts and health professionals suggest avoiding tanning beds and sun exposure in general to help reduce the risk of melanoma.  This type of skin cancer is not as common as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but it is far more threatening due to its capacity to rapidly spread to other organs.  If not diagnosed and treated in its early stages, this seemingly immune cancer can be fatal, as it is well-known to resist advanced cancer treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, kinase inhibitors and chemo, (NCBI, Cells. 2023 Oct).

Skin cancer is the leading diagnosed cancer in the U.S.A.  Skin cancers are the most common groups of cancers diagnosed globally.  “In 2022, an estimated 330 000 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed worldwide and almost 60 000 people died from the disease,” and overexposure caused by long hours of working under the sun is a leading cause of death from non-melanoma skin cancer, at a rate of 1 in 3 cases, (IARC, 8 November 2023).

What are the risk factors for skin cancer?

• Unprotected or excessive Ultraviolet light exposure from the sun or indoor tanning.
• Weakened immune system due to a medical condition or medications.
• Multiple moles – The more moles you have on your body, the higher your risk for melanoma. Also, having large moles (larger than a tip of a pencil eraser), or any atypical moles, increases the risk for melanoma.
• Fair skin – Melanoma occurs more frequently in people with fair skin, light eyes and light or red hair.
• Skin cancer history – People who have already had melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancers run a greater risk of developing melanoma in the future.
• Genetics – Melanoma can run in families – one in every 10 patients has a family member who also has had the disease.

It’s worth noting that the worst time of day to have sun exposure is from 10 to 2 p.m.  To avoid overexposure to your eyes, be mindful from 8 to 10 a.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m., as the sun is lower on the horizon, there is a greater potential for the eyes to have contact with the sun.  As far as we know, cannabinoids do not offer sun protection, but a topical solution could provide relief from various skin conditions.

Leigh Raaschou, a cannabis patient from Victoria, Australia worked outdoors for many years without donning any sun protection and thus developed skin cancer, melanoma and associated health problems that led to multiple surgeries and skin grafts to keep him alive. However, the quest to destroy the cancer cells through radiation therapy in turn diminished his hearing and eyesight and he’s run out of treatment options.  Could cannabis be his miracle medicine?   Data indicates that while melanoma accounted for about 6% of skin cancers, it was the cause of more than 80% of associated deaths. A study published in 2023 pinpoints Cannabis sativa as a leading-edge treatment for melanoma.  Nazim Nassar, a well-known biotechnologist and co-author of the study, said the in-vitro anti-cancer effects of a specific extract from the cannabis plant, termed PHEC-66, forces melanoma cells into a ‘programmed cell death’ also known as apoptosis. The study, Antiproliferative Effect of Cannabis Extract PHEC-66 on Melanoma Cell Lines, reveals the potential of medical marijuana as a pharmacotherapeutic agent for melanoma treatment.

Rick Simpson, a leader in cannabis advocacy, developed BCC skin cancer on his arm.  Basal cells are found in the lower part of the epidermis, called the basal cell layer. He had previously heard that the herb slowed the growth of lung cancer in mice, after viewing results of a 1975 study that tested the use of cannabinoids.  This insight led him on a self-healing campaign and he coupled his love of cannabis with his desire for health, which resulted in an eponymous, cannabinoid rich oil, which he used to successfully combat his cancer. Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) became widely popular in the cannabis community and today recourses indicate that it may also be effective in treating other conditions such as:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Infections
• Inflammation
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Insomnia

Is it a mole or melanoma?  Experts recommend using the ‘ABCDE’ checklist to compare a normal mole to a cancerous skin formation, (NHS.UK, Dr. Nam Hunger-Nguyen, Aug 12, 2022).

• A – Asymmetrical. Meaning that a normal mole is even, but melanoma typically has an uneven shape with two noticeably different sides.
• B – Border. Melanoma formations have ragged edges or irregular border, as opposed to common skin moles that are a small round shape.
• C – Colors. Signs of skin cancer or melanoma formations surface with a range of two or more skin tones.
• D – Diameter. If you notice the formation is more than 6 mm wide, then it’s likely melanoma.
• E – Evolving. What seems to surface as an ordinary mole, actually evolves in shape or color and bleeds, itches or becomes scabby, is more likely melanoma skin cancer.

Commonly melanoma is found on the back and legs, however in rare cases, it has been found inside the eyes, the soles of the feet, palms and genitals. From 2017 to 2023, patients have shared their cancer recovery stories here.