A Review of Cannabis in Brain Tumor Care Found Promise for Symptom Management but Major Gaps in Dosing Evidence

Published and anecdotal evidence suggests cannabis may help with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, appetite stimulation, pain reduction, and seizure management in brain tumor patients. Preclinical evidence suggests potential anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. However, no standardized dosing guidance exists, and cannabis use is dominated by recreational purposes rather than clinical protocols.

Narrative review of current literature on cannabinoids in brain tumor treatment, covering symptomatic management and potential anti-tumor properties.

Brain tumor patients have very limited treatment options and often experience severe side effects from chemotherapy. Cannabis could address multiple symptoms simultaneously, but without dosing standards, patients and clinicians are navigating blindly.

Many brain tumor patients already use cannabis, but the evidence base lags behind practice. The regulatory barriers to cannabis research have created a situation where widespread use outpaces the clinical data needed to guide it safely.

Narrative review without systematic methodology. Relies partly on anecdotal evidence. No meta-analysis possible due to heterogeneous literature. Anti-tumor evidence is preclinical only. Legal barriers limit research quality.