# Prospective analysis of safety and efficacy of medical cannabis in large unselected population of patients with cancer > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-safety-efficacy-cancer-study/ > **Published:** 2021-08-10T15:33:35-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:16:59-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore medical cannabis safety efficacy cancer in a large patient population with cancer, highlighting promising palliative care benefits and tolerability. --- As a leading cause of death, cancer is a major [public health](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-mold-contamination-risks-recall-safety/) problem with approxmiately 12.7 million new cases a year in the USA alone. A focus of oncology is [palliative care](https://cedclinic.com/corticobasal-degeneration-neuroprotection-cedclinic/), with the goal of alleviating pain, nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced-stage disease. In Israel, license for [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) purchase and consumption has become available to cancer patients for the palliation of these symptoms under doctor recommendation since 2007. A recent study has demonstrated the promising safety and efficacy of this therapy. Data routinely collected as part of a treatment program of 2970 cancer patients receiving [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) between 2015 and 2017 were analyzed. Patients in this cohort represented a wide range of cancers, with the most frequent types being breast, lung, pancreatic and colorectal. 51.2% of the patients were at the most advanced stage of [disease progression](https://cedclinic.com/multiple-sclerosis-biomarkers-p21-protein-variations/), and 26.7% reported previous experience with cannabis. The main reason these patients received [cannabis therapy](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-based-therapies-smoking-cessation/) was to address sleep problems, intense pain, weakness, nausea and lack of appetite. At the six-month follow-up, 24.9% of the patients had passed away and 18.8% had stopped the treatment. Of the remaining, 60.6% responded to follow-up surveys, among which 95.9% reported an improvement in their condition, 43.7% reported no change and only 0.3% reported deterioration in their medical condition. Only 30.3% indicated that they experienced some types of unwanted effects. Overall, through this study, the author demonstrated that cannabis seems to be a well tolerated, effective and safe palliative treatment option to help cancer patients cope with common disease symptoms and side-effects of chemotherapy. [More access here](https://cedclinic.com/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Cannabis Consumption by Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy and Clinical Outcomes](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-consumption-cancer-immunotherapy-outcomes/) Explore how cannabis consumption affects cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy and their clinical outcomes. [Read More](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-consumption-cancer-immunotherapy-outcomes/) [Medical Cannabis for Best Supportive Care of Patients Affected by Cancers of the Head and Neck: A Narrative Review.](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-supportive-care-head-neck-cancers/) A narrative review focusing on medical cannabis as supportive care for head and neck cancer patients. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-supportive-care-head-neck-cancers/) [Topical Cannabis for AIMSS: Medical Cannabis Evidence-Based Care](https://cedclinic.com/topical-cannabinoids-for-aimss-evidence-based-care/) Evidence-based insights on topical cannabis treatment for AIMSS symptoms in patients. [Discover More](https://cedclinic.com/topical-cannabinoids-for-aimss-evidence-based-care/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [X Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Prospective%20analysis%20of%20safety%20and%20efficacy%20of%20medical%20cannabis%20in%20large%20unselected%20population%20of%20patients%20with%20cancer&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fmedical-cannabis-safety-efficacy-cancer-study%2F) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fmedical-cannabis-safety-efficacy-cancer-study%2F) [Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Prospective%20analysis%20of%20safety%20and%20efficacy%20of%20medical%20cannabis%20in%20large%20unselected%20population%20of%20patients%20with%20cancer%20https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fmedical-cannabis-safety-efficacy-cancer-study%2F) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan) [Read more on Substack](https://doctorapprovedcannabis.substack.com/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/feed/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).