# Oral Cannabis Extract for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase II/III Trial

> **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637)
> **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com)
> **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/research/cannabis-for-nausea-randomized-controlled-trial/
> **Published:** 2026-09-17T12:06:25-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-17T14:01:08-04:00
> **Clinical Summary:** A randomised trial in adults who were still being sick during chemotherapy despite already taking the standard anti-sickness medicines.

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147 participants received either capsules containing 2.5 mg THC plus 2.5 mg CBD or matching placebo, three times daily from the day before chemotherapy through day 5, on top of guideline-consistent antiemetic prophylaxis. That background regimen was substantial: 97% received a corticosteroid and a 5-HT3 antagonist, 80% an NK-1 antagonist.

The primary endpoint was a complete response across hours 0-120 – no vomiting or retching and no rescue medication. THC:CBD improved that from 8% to 24%, an absolute difference of 16% (95% CI, 4 to 28; P = .01). Effects pointed the same way for significant nausea, rescue medication use, daily vomits, and the nausea scale of the Functional Living Index-Emesis.

The trade-off is explicit in the data. Sedation was reported by 18% versus 7%, dizziness 10% versus 0%, and transient anxiety 4% versus 1%. No serious adverse events were attributed to the study drug. The trial recruited 147 of a planned 250 participants, so it is smaller than intended.

 

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### 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).