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Inhaled medicinal cannabis and the immunocompromised patient

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Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Medicinal cannabis is an invaluable adjunct therapy for pain relief, nausea, anorexia, and mood modification in cancer patients and is available as cookies or cakes, as sublingual drops, as a vaporized mist, or for smoking. However, as with every herb, various microorganisms are carried on its leaves and flowers which when inhaled could expose the user, in particular immunocompromised patients, to the risk of opportunistic lung infections, primarily from inhaled molds. The objective of this study was to identify the safest way of using medicinal cannabis in immunosuppressed patients by finding the optimal method of sterilization with minimal loss of activity of cannabis. We describe the results of culturing the cannabis herb, three methods of sterilization, and the measured loss of a main cannabinoid compound activity. Systematic sterilization of medicinal cannabis can eliminate the risk of fatal opportunistic infections associated with cannabis among patients at risk.

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Abbreviations

M.C.:

Medicinal cannabis

Δ9-THC:

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

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Acknowledgments

The use of medicinal cannabis was approved by the chief national psychiatrist of the Israeli Health Ministry.

Author contributions

Study design and manuscript writing were under the responsibility of Rosa Ruchlemer, David Raveh, Michal Amit-Kohn, and Lumír Hanuš. David Raveh also cultured the cannabis. Lumir Hanus was also responsible for the sterilization studies.

Conflict of interest

None.

Funding

None.

Data sharing statement

No additional data available.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, 12 Shmuel Biet St., 91031, Jerusalem, Israel

    Rosa Ruchlemer

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, 12 Shmuel Biet St., 91031, Jerusalem, Israel

    Michal Amit-Kohn

  3. Infectious Diseases Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, 12 Shmuel Biet St., 91031, Jerusalem, Israel

    David Raveh

  4. Institute of Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Medical Faculty, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    Lumír Hanuš

Authors
  1. Rosa Ruchlemer
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  2. Michal Amit-Kohn
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  3. David Raveh
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  4. Lumír Hanuš
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosa Ruchlemer.

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Ruchlemer, R., Amit-Kohn, M., Raveh, D. et al. Inhaled medicinal cannabis and the immunocompromised patient. Support Care Cancer 23, 819–822 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2429-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2429-3

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