Medical Cannabis in the Spotlight: Evidence & Emerging Research

New Bioactive Compounds from Natural Product Chemistry 

An example of cutting-edge basic research comes from Jung et al. (Pharmaceuticals 2025;18(4):521). The authors were the first to isolate two previously unknown cannabinoids – including cannabielsoxa – as well as chlorin-type metabolites from the flowers of Cannabis sativa. While classic cannabinoids demonstrated strong antitumor effects against neuroblastoma cells in cell culture, the chlorin derivatives open up an entirely new therapeutic avenue: their light-activated properties could be used in photodynamic treatments to selectively destroy tumor cells. For cancer patients whose standard therapies have reached their limits, these newly discovered compounds may become a valuable addition in the future. 

Long-Term Real-World Data from Australia 

The QUEST initiative provides impressive real-world evidence. In a prospective cohort of 2,353 patients treated with medical cannabis oil, quality of life and symptoms such as pain and fatigue improved within a few weeks and remained stable over twelve months. Remarkably, 70% of participants who had previously relied on opioids were able to reduce or completely discontinue their opioid dosage. Such practice-oriented observations are essential for demonstrating that medical cannabis should not be reserved as a last resort but integrated as a core part of modern pain therapy. 

Cannabis for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea 

Grimison et al. investigated in a large Phase II/III study whether THC:CBD capsules could relieve nausea and vomiting in patients experiencing severe symptoms despite standard antiemetic prophylaxis. Participants took 2.5 mg THC plus 2.5 mg CBD or placebo three times daily. The result: With the cannabis extract, the rate of complete response (no vomiting, no rescue medications) rose from 8% to 24% – a statistically significant increase of 16% (95% CI 4–28; p = 0.01). Episodes of significant nausea, daily vomiting occurrences, and quality-of-life scores also improved. Side effects were mostly mild (sedation, dizziness, transient anxiety), with no serious adverse events. Even moderate doses thus proved to be an effective complement to antiemetic therapy. 

Conclusion & Outlook 

The studies presented here are just a snapshot, but they expand our understanding of new therapeutic opportunities – from innovative antitumor approaches to alleviating treatment-related side effects. They also highlight where research priorities should lie: closing the gap between clinical trials and real-world practice so that medical cannabis gains further precision and trustworthiness, and finds more frequent integration into everyday prescribing. 

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