What does the research say?
No study was found that randomly tested pure CBD in cancer patients with loss of appetite or weight loss. In a study done to relieve symptoms in advanced cancer, 144 patients were randomly assigned to CBD oil or an inactive oil; symptoms such as appetite, pain and fatigue improved in both groups, and there was no difference between the groups. However, these patients were not selected because of appetite loss, and appetite was only one of the symptoms measured. In a small non-randomized study of 32 patients receiving chemotherapy, lean body mass did not change in those taking CBD for 8 days in each chemotherapy cycle; only an improvement in the ability to tell apart the intensity of tastes was reported. For this reason, we do not know today whether CBD oil helps with appetite or weight loss.
In one of the largest studies with THC-containing products, 243 patients were randomly assigned to cannabis extract (THC and a small amount of CBD), THC alone or placebo. After six weeks, no difference was seen between the groups in appetite and quality of life, and the study was stopped early for this reason. In another study involving 469 patients, dronabinol, a synthetic THC, was less effective than megestrol, an appetite-stimulating medicine (improvement in appetite 49% vs. 75%). In a recent study of 144 patients with advanced cancer testing an oil containing equal amounts of THC and CBD, appetite also did not improve any differently than in those taking an inactive oil; side effects such as feeling intoxicated and stopping treatment were more common in those taking the THC oil. In a study of cancer pain involving 177 patients, the appetite of those taking a mouth spray containing THC and CBD fared worse over 2 weeks than that of those taking placebo; the main aim of this study was pain, and the appetite result is not in the publication but on the study's registry page.
In a small study of 47 patients with lung cancer, the THC-like drug nabilone gave no different result from placebo for appetite and weight, which were among the study's main measures; the results came from only 33 patients. Daily calorie intake increased in those taking nabilone, but the abstract of the publication does not say whether this increase was significantly different from the placebo group; the only result reported as significantly higher than in the placebo group was carbohydrate intake. In another nabilone study of 56 patients receiving radiation therapy (radiotherapy) for head and neck cancer, appetite, weight and quality of life were no different from placebo. The 2020 cachexia guideline of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) had also given a weak recommendation against using cannabis derivatives for this purpose.
In a small study of 46 patients with advanced cancer and taste and smell disorders, those taking dronabinol, a synthetic THC, reported compared with those taking placebo that their taste and smell perception improved, that food tasted better and that they felt hungrier before meals; however, total calorie intake, which was what the study mainly measured, increased in both groups with no difference between them, and fewer than half of the patients completed the study. In a small study of 32 patients with pancreatic cancer, the proportion whose appetite improved (56% vs. 30%) was not statistically different between those who started cannabis products right away and those who waited 8 weeks; this study had no placebo.
In a non-randomized study in Canada comparing 47 patients with advanced cancer who were taking nabilone and 65 who were not, the improvement in appetite was borderline and not statistically significant. In studies without a comparison group and in patient registries, some patients using cannabis reported that their appetite improved: in a study in Israel supported by the company that makes the product, weight increased by at least 10% in 3 of the 17 patients who started the capsule, but most of those who started stopped the treatment; in a patient registry in Canada, appetite loss decreased only in women. In 324 patients followed for 6 months in Israel, average weight did not change. In a cohort in Thailand following about 2,900 cancer patients, the appetite-loss score decreased over 3 months with an oil containing only about 0.2 mg of THC a day; but these patients were not selected because of appetite loss, and because this dose is far below the doses used in controlled studies, it is unclear how much of the improvement came from the oil. Systematic reviews bringing these studies together found no reliable evidence from randomized studies that cannabinoids increase appetite or weight in cancer; the certainty of the evidence was low or very low.
Strength of evidence: ○○○○ Insufficient evidence. Finding: No effect found. What does this mean?
Ongoing research on this topic
No ongoing CBD trial on this topic appears on ClinicalTrials.gov right now. All ongoing trials
Possible side effects and drug interactions
In most of the appetite studies, the side effects of THC-containing products and nabilone were similar to those of placebo or of the comparison drug. However, in the study in advanced cancer with an oil containing equal amounts of THC and CBD, mental side effects such as feeling intoxicated, and stopping treatment, were more common; in the Israeli capsule study, fatigue, dizziness, anxiety and hallucinations occurred at the higher dose, and the dose was lowered. In a pure CBD study in advanced cancer, side effects were similar to placebo; only shortness of breath was reported more often in those taking CBD.
Still, CBD can slow the breakdown of some medicines used in cancer treatment: it has been shown to raise everolimus levels about 2.5-fold, and one case was reported in which a blood clotting value (INR) rose with warfarin. There are also notable observations about cannabis use in people receiving immune treatment (immunotherapy); drowsiness may increase when combined with sleep-inducing medicines.
Interactions with medicines used for this condition
Interactions reported for these medicines in peer-reviewed publications and official prescribing information. A medicine that is not listed can still interact with CBD; tell your doctor about every medicine you take.
| Medicine | Importance | Warning | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everolimus | High importance | Everolimus, sirolimus: In a controlled study in healthy volunteers taking approved CBD, the blood level of everolimus rose about 2.5-fold; in patients with TSC (tuberous sclerosis complex), everolimus and sirolimus levels rose in most patients when CBD was added. The prescribing information for both medicines recommends close monitoring of blood levels with CBD, and lowering the dose if needed. Do not start without talking to your doctor; your drug level should be monitored. | EMA Epidyolex SmPC 4.5, PMID 37132402, PMID 31924480, Everolimus (Afinitor) prescribing information §2.11 and §7.1, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Everolimus (Zortress) prescribing information §5.22 and §7.1, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Sirolimus prescribing information §5.21 and §7.5, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov |
| Warfarin | High importance | Warfarin: If you take warfarin, tell your doctor before starting CBD. Case reports have described INR rising and the warfarin dose needing to be lowered; more frequent INR monitoring is recommended. | PMID 29387536, PMID 33016308, PMID 30326170 |
| Immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors, e.g., nivolumab) | Caution | Immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors): In some observational studies, cannabis users had a lower response to immunotherapy or shorter survival; other studies found no difference, and the results conflict. Cause and effect has not been proven, most studies were done with cannabis containing THC, and there are no data specific to pure CBD. Guidelines advise caution; do not start without talking to your oncologist. | PMID 30670598, PMID 32872248, PMID 35454955, PMID 38610922, PMID 39737331, PMID 36535195, PMID 40184324, PMID 38478773, PMID 36872397 |
| Tamoxifen | Caution | Tamoxifen: In one case, the active breakdown product of tamoxifen (endoxifen) was found to be lower while the person was taking 40 mg of CBD a day. In a small study of 15 patients taking tamoxifen, about 50 mg a day of THC-free CBD oil lowered endoxifen by 12.6% on average; the researchers did not consider this difference important at this dose, and the effect of higher doses is not known. Do not start without talking to your oncologist. | PMID 33191836, PMID 37543688 |
| Chemotherapy / cancer medicines (general) | Information | Chemotherapy and cancer medicines: Data on interactions between CBD and cancer medicines are very limited. Talk to your oncologist before using it. | PMID 30776990, PMID 38478773 |
| Apixaban (DOAC), Rivaroxaban (DOAC) | Information | DOAC blood thinners: If you take a blood thinner, tell your doctor about CBD. There are no clinical data on interactions between these medicines and CBD; there is only a general warning in the package leaflet. | dailymed.nlm.nih.gov |
To check interactions with the medicines you take: CBD drug interaction checker.
How was CBD used in studies?
Because there is no study of pure CBD for loss of appetite, there are no data on what dose of CBD oil could be used for this purpose. In a study of symptoms in advanced cancer, CBD oil was started at 50 mg a day and slowly increased up to at most 600 mg; the middle (median) of the doses chosen by patients was 400 mg a day (study dose; not a personal recommendation), and appetite did not improve any differently than with placebo.
In studies of THC-containing products, THC was mostly used at 2.5 mg twice a day, and in some studies it was started at a low dose and slowly increased up to 20–30 mg a day; nabilone was started at 0.5 mg a day and raised to 1–2 mg (study doses; not a personal recommendation). These are prescription medicines and are not the same thing as CBD oil.
Study details (for health professionals)
No pure CBD RCT that selected patients for loss of appetite and weight loss in cancer was found; in an RCT on symptom burden in advanced cancer (144 patients, 28 days, median 400 mg/day), all ESAS items, including appetite, improved in both groups, with no difference between the groups; in a small non-randomized study, 300 mg/day of CBD during chemotherapy did not change lean body mass and reported improvement in taste discrimination. THC-containing cannabis extract and THC were no different from placebo; dronabinol was worse than megestrol. In a 46-patient pilot RCT in patients with taste and smell disorders, dronabinol improved taste and smell perception, appetite before meals and the share of calories from protein more than placebo; total calorie intake, the primary outcome in the registry, increased in both groups, with no difference between the groups. Nabilone was no different from placebo for appetite and weight during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer; THC:CBD 1:1 oil did not change the appetite score differently from placebo in advanced cancer (p = 0.32); in a waitlist-controlled open pilot study in pancreatic cancer, the difference in appetite improvement was not significant (56% vs. 30%; p = 0.37). In a 177-patient RCT of cancer pain, the appetite score fared worse over 2 weeks with the THC+CBD mouth spray than with placebo (difference 0.83 points; 95% CI 0.16–1.51; p = 0.016), and with the THC-only spray the difference was borderline (p = 0.056); this secondary outcome is not in the publication but in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT00674609). In lung cancer, nabilone was no different from placebo for appetite and weight in a small pilot RCT; calorie intake increased in the nabilone group, but the abstract does not state whether the difference from placebo was significant, and the only result reported as significantly higher than placebo was carbohydrate intake (47 randomized, 33 analyzed). Uncontrolled studies and patient registries reported improvement in appetite, but there was no comparison group, and in a cohort followed for 6 months average weight did not change; in 2,873 cancer patients in Thailand, the appetite-loss score (0–10) decreased by 1.67 points over 3 months with an oil containing only about 0.2 mg of THC a day (uncontrolled; patients were not selected for appetite loss, baseline score 2.45; the public institution that makes the product funded the study; the authors point to the possible role of the placebo effect). Systematic reviews (Simon 2022, Razmovski-Naumovski 2022, Creangă-Murariu 2025) showed no significant benefit for appetite or weight; certainty low or very low. The ASCO 2020 cachexia guideline had given a weak recommendation against cannabinoids (as reported in ASCO 2024). October 2026 search (PubMed, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov): 9 randomized studies with cannabinoids on this topic and 2 non-randomized studies with a comparison group were found; all are in the table below. 4 of the randomized studies were done in patients with loss of appetite, weight loss or taste disorders; the other 5 were done for symptom burden in advanced cancer, cancer pain or quality of life during radiation therapy and measured appetite as a secondary outcome. The 4 most comprehensive and most recent systematic reviews answering the same question are also in the table; there is no Cochrane review. Although chemotherapy nausea studies measured appetite as a side outcome, they were assessed under the nausea and vomiting topic. A 109-patient phase 3 study comparing dronabinol with placebo for symptoms during chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer (NCT03984214; weight loss and lean body mass among the secondary outcomes) was completed in September 2024; its results have not yet been published.
Evidence assessment: Pure CBD: Insufficient; no RCT for loss of appetite; in 1 RCT on symptom burden, appetite no different from placebo
CBD alone
There is no pure CBD RCT that selected patients for appetite loss/cachexia in cancer; in a symptom-burden RCT in advanced cancer (144 patients), there was no difference from placebo in the ESAS items, including appetite (secondary outcome); in a small non-randomized study, lean body mass did not change.
Products containing THC
No benefit for appetite and weight has been shown with THC-containing products and nabilone (low to very low evidence); small studies reported improvement in taste perception and in the intake of some foods.
Evidence: Very weak
Dose range in studies
In the non-randomized study, CBD 300 mg/day (8 days in each chemotherapy cycle); in the symptom-burden RCT, CBD 50–600 mg/day (median 400 mg); in THC-containing products, THC mostly 2.5 mg twice a day (increased up to 20–30 mg/day in some studies), median 15 + 15 mg/day in the THC:CBD 1:1 oil; nabilone 0.5–2 mg/day
Starting dose and titration
In most studies, the dose was started low and increased over 1–2 weeks based on response and side effects: dronabinol from 2.5 mg a day, nabilone from 0.5 mg, CBD oil from 50 mg a day, THC:CBD oil from 2.5 + 2.5 mg a day (study doses; not a personal recommendation). In the Israeli capsule study, where side effects were seen at the higher dose, the dose was halved.
These are doses researchers gave under medical supervision; they are not a recommended dose for you. "mg/kg/day" means milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
| Study | Participants | Product | Dose and titration | Duration | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strasser 2006 (Cannabis-In-Cachexia-Study-Group) Phase III, double-blind RCT | 243 randomized (95 extract, 100 THC, 48 placebo); 164 completed Cancer-related anorexia-cachexia | Cannabis extract (THC 2.5 mg + CBD 1 mg) vs. THC 2.5 mg vs. placebo | Twice a day (fixed) None | 6 weeks | No difference between groups in appetite and quality of life (reported increased appetite: extract 73%, THC 58%, placebo 69%); the independent data board recommended stopping enrollment because there was not enough difference between the groups Side effects: No difference in toxicity | PMID 16849753, doi:10.1200/JCO.2005.05.1847 |
| Jatoi 2002 (NCCTG) RCT | 469 evaluable patients randomized (three groups) Anorexia in advanced cancer | Dronabinol 2.5 mg × 2 vs. megestrol 800 mg/day vs. both | Dronabinol 2.5 mg twice a day (fixed) None | Not reported (in the abstract) | Megestrol better: improvement in appetite 75% vs. 49% (p = 0.0001), weight gain of at least 10% from baseline 11% vs. 3% (p = 0.02); the combination gave no added benefit. No placebo group Side effects: Similar (more impotence with megestrol) | PMID 11786587, doi:10.1200/JCO.2002.20.2.567, IL-6 substudy of the same trial: Jatoi 2002, Support Care Cancer, PMID 11777191, change in IL-6 not different between groups) |
| Turcott 2018 Double-blind pilot RCT | 47 randomized; 33 analyzed (14 nabilone, 19 placebo) Advanced non-small cell lung cancer, anorexia | Nabilone (a synthetic THC-like cannabinoid, oral capsule) and placebo | 0.5 mg (2 weeks) → 1.0 mg (6 weeks) Fixed increase | 8 weeks | Of the five primary outcomes in the registry, no difference from placebo in appetite and weight (weight change at week 8: −1.4 kg with nabilone, −1.09 kg with placebo; p = 0.724); BMI and nutritional status (SGA) results are not in the sources read. Of the primary outcomes, daily calorie intake increased by 342 kcal in the nabilone group and decreased in the placebo group; the abstract does not state whether the between-group difference was significant. The only result reported as significantly higher than placebo was carbohydrate intake, a secondary outcome (64 g; p = 0.040). Improvement in some quality-of-life domains was shown only within the nabilone group; the ESMO 2021 guideline reports that there was no significant effect on quality of life either. Full text could not be read; appetite, weight and calorie details are from two reviews and ESMO 2021 Side effects: According to the Ceolin 2024 review, grade 3 nausea occurred only in the placebo group, and at most grade 2 side effects were reported in the nabilone group at week 8 (as reported in the review; full text could not be read) | PMID 29550881, doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4154-9, NCT02802540, no results in the registry) |
| Dominiak 2023 Non-randomized, controlled pilot study | 32 (22 CBD / 10 control) Cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin or paclitaxel chemotherapy (Denmark) | CBD oil made by the hospital pharmacy (THC content not stated in the publication) | 150 mg twice a day (300 mg/day), 8 days in each chemotherapy cycle | 3 chemotherapy cycles | No difference between groups in lean body mass, the primary outcome (numbers not given in the publication); the ability to tell apart the intensity of tastes improved in the CBD group and was lost in the control group. Taste results are within-group comparisons; the control group was enrolled in the months before the CBD group, the sample stayed below the planned 25 people per group, and 21% of taste test questions went unanswered in the CBD group (2.4% in the control group) Side effects: Not reported in this publication (according to the full text, side effects were recorded in CINCAN-2, the study of CBD for preventing neuropathy) | PMID 37447339, doi:10.3390/nu15133014, NCT04585841, no results in the registry) |
| Mücke 2018 Systematic review and meta-analysis (palliative medicine) | 9 studies, 1561 participants Palliative care (cancer subgroup) | Cannabinoids | In cancer patients, no difference from placebo in calorie intake, appetite, nausea and vomiting, pain or sleep problems (low/very low quality) Side effects: In cancer, no difference in dizziness/mental health | PMID 29400010, doi:10.1002/jcsm.12273 | ||
| Brisbois 2011 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pilot study (phase 2, two centers) | 46 randomized (24 dronabinol, 22 placebo); 21 people completed Patients with advanced cancer with reduced appetite and taste and smell disorders (Canada) | Dronabinol (synthetic THC, oral capsule) and placebo | 2.5 mg; once a day for the first 3 days, then twice a day; if needed, up to 20 mg a day Twice a day from day 4; increase up to at most 20 mg/day if the patient wished | 18 days | Total calorie intake, the primary outcome in the registry, increased in both groups; no difference between groups. Quality of life also improved similarly in both groups. In the dronabinol group, improvement (p = 0.026) and enhancement (p < 0.001) of taste and smell perception, food tasting "better" (p = 0.04), appetite before meals (p = 0.05) and the share of calories from protein (p = 0.008) increased more than with placebo; sleep quality (p = 0.025) and relaxation (p = 0.045) were better. Very small and short; fewer than half of the patients completed Side effects: No difference in side effects between groups was reported (as reported in a review; full text could not be read) | PMID 21343383, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdq727, NCT00316563, no results in the registry) |
| Côté 2016 Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT (single center) | 56 randomized (28 nabilone, 28 placebo); 24 people left before the end of the study Patients with squamous cell head and neck cancer (mouth, pharynx, larynx) receiving radiotherapy (Canada) | Nabilone (a synthetic THC-like cannabinoid, by mouth) and placebo | Week 1: 0.5 mg at bedtime; week 2: 0.5 mg twice a day; after week 3, at most 2 mg/day (at most 4 tablets a day) Weekly increase; after week 3, dose adjusted by the radiation oncologist (at most 2 mg/day) | Throughout radiotherapy (about 7 weeks) + 4 weeks of follow-up | Primary outcome: the time to a 15% worsening of quality of life was not prolonged with nabilone (p = 0.43). No difference from placebo in loss of appetite (p = 0.33), weight (p = 0.15), pain (p = 0.60), nausea (p = 0.71), mood or sleep Side effects: No difference from placebo in the frequency of drowsiness (p = 0.32), anxiety and dry mouth as side effects (as reported in the Ceolin 2024 review; Cochrane 2023 gives the same result for drowsiness and anxiety; full text could not be read) | PMID 26503964, doi:10.1177/0003489415612801 |
| Hardy 2023 (MedCan1-CBD) Double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation RCT (phase 2b, multicenter) | 144 randomized; 121 people in the primary analysis (58 CBD, 63 placebo) Patients with advanced cancer and a high symptom burden receiving palliative care (Australia); not selected because of loss of appetite | Synthetic CBD oil 100 mg/mL (CBD produced by synthesis, not from the plant; as described in the MedCan2 publication) and placebo oil | Started at 0.5 mL (50 mg) once a day, up to at most 2 mL 3 times a day (600 mg/day); median dose chosen by patients 400 mg/day Increase based on response and side effects in the first 14 days, then 14 days at a fixed dose | 28 days (primary outcome at day 14) | The primary outcome (total symptom burden, day 14) was no different with CBD than with placebo (change −3.0 vs. −6.2; p = 0.24). Appetite was a secondary outcome, as one of the 9 items of the scale (ESAS): all items, including appetite, improved in both groups, with no difference between the groups (no appetite-specific numbers in the abstract; the full text could not be read) Side effects: Side effects did not differ between groups; only shortness of breath was more common in the CBD group | PMID 36409969, doi:10.1200/JCO.22.01632, ANZCTR ACTRN12618001220257, protocol: Good 2019, PMID 31810437 |
| Hardy 2025 (MedCan2) Double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation RCT (multicenter) | 144 randomized; 121 people in the day-14 analysis (56 THC:CBD, 65 placebo) Patients with advanced cancer and a high symptom burden receiving palliative care (Australia); not selected because of loss of appetite | Plant-derived THC:CBD 1:1 oral oil (10 mg THC + 10 mg CBD per mL) and placebo oil | 0.25–3 mL a day (between 2.5 + 2.5 mg and 30 + 30 mg THC + CBD); median dose chosen by patients 1.5 mL (15 mg THC + 15 mg CBD/day) Increase or decrease over 14 days on a set schedule based on response and side effects | 28 days (primary outcome at day 14) | The primary outcome (total symptom burden, day 14) improved similarly in both groups (−6.30 vs. −6.98; p = 0.76). On the appetite item (0–10; a higher score means worse appetite), the score decreased by 0.19 with THC:CBD and by 0.69 with placebo (improvement in both groups); no difference (p = 0.32; baseline-adjusted p = 0.51). There was a small improvement in pain (p = 0.04); the difference in overall well-being favored placebo Side effects: Mental side effects such as feeling intoxicated more common in the THC:CBD group; stopping before day 14, 22% vs. 10%, and before day 28, 54% vs. 31% (p = 0.007) | PMID 40705150, doi:10.1007/s00520-025-09763-5, ANZCTR ACTRN12619000037101, funding: Australian government (MRFF), the manufacturer provided the drug and placebo and had no role in the study |
| Zylla 2026 (CanPan) Waitlist-controlled, open-label pilot RCT | 34 enrolled; 32 started (16 early, 16 delayed start) Newly diagnosed locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, at least one symptom; moderate to severe loss of appetite in 69% (US, Minnesota) | Products chosen for each patient from the state medical cannabis program: THC-dominant or THC:CBD-balanced depending on the symptom (balanced products were recommended for loss of appetite and cachexia), CBD-dominant only for anxiety; by mouth, as a spray or inhaled | Individual; median THC 7.3 mg/day at week 8 Started at a low dose and increased slowly as recommended by the pharmacist and the oncology team | 8-week comparison period (16 weeks in total) | The feasibility goals, the primary outcome, were met. At week 8, appetite improved in 56% of the early-start group and 30% of the waiting group; the difference was not significant (p = 0.37). Numerical but non-significant differences in pain and insomnia as well. No placebo, and patients knew what they were using Side effects: Worsening of cannabis-related complaints such as dry mouth similar in both groups (11% vs. 20%; p = 0.99) | PMID 41510814, doi:10.1200/OP-25-01165, NCT06605430, 16-week dose-response analysis: Gupta 2026, PMID 42767994 |
| Johnson 2010 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm RCT (multicenter) | 177 randomized (60 THC+CBD, 58 THC, 59 placebo); 144 completed; 54, 54 and 56 people in the appetite analysis Patients with advanced (terminal) cancer whose pain was not adequately reduced despite strong opioids; not selected because of loss of appetite | THC+CBD mouth spray (nabiximols; 27 mg THC + 25 mg CBD per mL), THC-only cannabis extract spray (27 mg THC per mL) and placebo spray | One spray is 100 µL (2.7 mg THC + 2.5 mg CBD in the THC+CBD spray); at most 8 sprays in 3 hours and 48 sprays a day (at most 130 mg THC + 120 mg CBD a day) Patients adjusted the number of sprays themselves (within the upper limits) | 2 weeks | On pain, the primary outcome, the THC+CBD spray was better than placebo (−1.37 vs. −0.69); with THC alone, the difference was not significant. The appetite score, a secondary outcome (0 very good, 10 very bad), worsened by 0.24 points with THC+CBD and by 0.18 points with THC alone over 2 weeks, while it improved by 1.65 points with placebo: the difference between THC+CBD and placebo was significant in favor of placebo (0.83; 95% CI 0.16–1.51; p = 0.016), and borderline for THC alone (0.66; −0.02 to 1.33; p = 0.056). The appetite result is not in the abstract of the publication; it was taken from the results in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (it could not be verified in a peer-reviewed publication). No difference in sleep and nausea scores; the nausea-vomiting domain of the quality-of-life scale was worse with THC+CBD than with placebo (p = 0.02). The sponsor in the registry is the company that makes the drug Side effects: Serious side effects in 13/60 patients with THC+CBD, 13/58 with THC alone and 7/59 with placebo (registry; relation to the drug not separated); according to the publication, most drug-related side effects were mild or moderate | PMID 19896326, doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.06.008, NCT00674609, appetite result only in the registry) |
| Maida 2008 Prospective observational study: patients taking and not taking nabilone were compared after balancing with propensity scores (not randomized or blinded) | 47 nabilone, 65 patients not taking nabilone Patients with advanced cancer with pain and other symptoms (Canada) | Nabilone (a synthetic THC-like cannabinoid, by mouth), added to existing treatment | Not reported (in the abstract) | 30 days | The primary outcomes were pain and opioid use (both lower in the nabilone group; p < 0.0001). The improvement in appetite was borderline and not statistically significant (p = 0.0516); nausea, anxiety and total symptom score were better in the nabilone group. Nabilone was not given randomly, and the study was not blinded; the groups were balanced with propensity scores Side effects: Not reported (in the abstract) | PMID 18402303 |
| Bar-Sela 2019 Open-label, single-group pilot study (no comparison group) | 24 gave consent; 17 started; 11 people used it for more than 2 weeks; 6 people completed 6 months Patients with advanced cancer with cancer-related anorexia-cachexia (Israel) | THC-rich cannabis extract capsule (9.5 mg THC + 0.5 mg CBD in the 10 mg capsule; half that in the 5 mg capsule) | Planned 10 mg twice a day; because of side effects, 5 mg once or twice a day in 13 of the 17 patients 1 capsule a day for the first 2 weeks, then 2 if needed; lowered to the 5 mg capsule if side effects occurred | 6 months (planned) | Primary outcome (weight gain of at least 10% from baseline): in 3 of the 6 patients who completed 6 months (17.6% of the 17 patients who started); in the 6-patient analysis, complaints in the appetite-loss domain of the quality-of-life scale decreased (p = 0.05). No control group, and most of those who started stopped. The study was funded by the company that makes the product; one of the authors is a company employee Side effects: Side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, disorientation, anxiety and hallucinations in 3 of the 4 patients taking the 10 mg capsule; 3 (23%) of those taking 5 mg stopped with similar side effects | PMID 31595793, doi:10.1177/1534735419881498, NCT02359123 |
| Simon 2022 (systematic review and meta-analysis) Systematic review and meta-analysis (RCTs and non-randomized studies; search up to May 2020) | 10 studies: 4 RCTs (647 patients) and 6 non-randomized studies (157 patients) Cancer-related cachexia and loss of appetite | Dronabinol, nabilone, THC, cannabis extract and medical cannabis | In the pooled analysis of 3 RCTs, no difference from placebo in appetite (SMD −0.02; 95% CI −0.51 to 0.46; very low certainty); no benefit for weight in two RCTs; quality of life was slightly worse with cannabinoids than in the control group (SMD −0.25; −0.43 to −0.07; moderate certainty). In non-randomized studies, patients reported improvement in appetite (uncontrolled, very low certainty) Side effects: No significant difference in the number and severity of side effects in RCTs; in most non-randomized studies, most patients reported side effects | PMID 34881518, doi:10.1002/jcsm.12861 | ||
| Razmovski-Naumovski 2022 (systematic review) Systematic review (narrative synthesis and meta-analysis; search up to February 2021) | 5 RCTs Appetite-related symptoms in cancer | Dronabinol, nabilone and cannabis extract (compared with placebo in 4 studies and with megestrol in 1 study) | Efficacy was shown in only 1 study (dronabinol): taste and smell perception and some secondary outcomes were better than with placebo. Evidence from RCTs that cannabinoids increase appetite in cancer is limited; measures, results and products vary widely Side effects: Generally well tolerated regardless of product and dose; however, side effects were not measured comprehensively | PMID 35360989, doi:10.1177/02692163221083437 | ||
| Creangă-Murariu 2025 (systematic review and meta-analysis) Systematic review and meta-analysis (interventional and observational studies; search up to November 4, 2023) | 98 publications (all cancer symptoms); 3 studies in the appetite analysis Symptom management in cancer patients | All types of cannabinoids (THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, balanced) | There is a trend toward improvement in appetite from baseline, but it is not statistically significant (pooled mean change from baseline −1.88; 95% CI −6.23 to 2.46; 3 single-group studies). Certainty of evidence low or very low for all outcomes; high risk of publication bias for appetite Side effects: With THC-dominant products, the risk of psychiatric (OR 10.62; 1.35–83.57) and neurological (OR 2.24; 1.15–4.35) side effects increased | PMID 40748522, doi:10.1007/s11912-025-01695-x, PROSPERO CRD42023479375 | ||
| Aviram 2022 Prospective observational cohort (multicenter; no comparison group) | 324 started; 212, 158 and 126 people responded at months 1, 3 and 6 Oncology patients receiving a medical cannabis license for the first time for cancer symptoms (Israel) | Licensed medical cannabis: dried flower (smoked or vaporized) or oil extract; at month 6, of those who reported their product, 61% used THC-dominant, 25% mixed and 15% CBD-dominant products (median 3 g of THC per month) | Individual; median 20 g of product per month | 6 months | At 6 months, total symptom burden decreased by a median of 18% from baseline (−18.98; 95% CI −26.95 to −11.00). Average weight and body mass index did not change (median 70 kg → 70 kg); there was a small but significant decrease in the distribution (−0.96 kg; −1.83 to −0.10). No control group; only 39% of those who started responded at month 6 Side effects: Side effects were common, but most were not serious and stayed stable throughout follow-up | PMID 35669038, doi:10.3389/fpain.2022.861037, 1-month study from the same research group: Aviram 2020, PMID 33265945, average weight did not change significantly) |
| Kasvis 2022 (Quebec Cannabis Registry) Patient registry analysis (prospective registry; no comparison group) | 358 (171 men, 187 women) Patients starting medical cannabis for cancer symptoms (Canada, Quebec) | Medical cannabis: THC-dominant, THC:CBD-balanced or CBD-dominant products | Not reported (in the abstract) | 3 months | At 3 months, the appetite-loss score (ESAS-r, 0–10) decreased only in women (−1.7 ± 0.4; p < 0.001) and did not change significantly in men; CBD-dominant products did not provide significant symptom relief in either sex. No control group; results are patients' self-reports Side effects: Not reported (in the abstract) | PMID 35723729, doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07193-1 |
| Stienrut 2024 (Thai national cohort) Prospective observational cohort (30 centers; no comparison group) | 21,284 patients, 2,873 with cancer; by week 12, 32% of participants had dropped out of follow-up Patients prescribed cannabis oil by traditional Thai medicine practitioners for symptoms such as pain, loss of appetite and insomnia (Thailand); patients with cancer were not selected because of loss of appetite (mean baseline appetite-loss score 2.45/10) | Cannabis extract in coconut oil produced by the Ministry of Health (about 0.07 mg THC per drop; almost no CBD) | Most often 3 drops a day at bedtime (about 0.2 mg THC/day) | 3 months | In patients with cancer, the appetite-loss score (ESAS, 0–10) decreased by 1.67 points from baseline over 3 months (95% CI 1.56 to 1.78; baseline 2.45); by 1.12 points in patients without cancer. Weight change was not reported for the cancer subgroup. No control group; patients were not selected because of loss of appetite; the daily amount of THC was about 0.2 mg (far below the doses in the THC studies in the table; the authors write that the placebo effect may have influenced the results), and reasons for dropping out of follow-up were not recorded Side effects: Side effects at 0.42% of 67,681 visits (most often dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness); decreased appetite at 2 visits | PMID 39144529, doi:10.1159/000540153, Thai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20191231001. Funding: the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Health, which also makes the product, 9 of the 13 authors work in this department, the authors declared no conflicts of interest |
Reported side effects
- Strasser 2006: no difference in toxicity
- Jatoi 2002: side effects of dronabinol and megestrol similar
- Hardy 2025 (THC:CBD 1:1 oil): mental side effects such as feeling intoxicated more common; stopping before day 14, 22% vs. 10%
- Hardy 2023 (CBD oil): side effects similar to placebo; shortness of breath more common in the CBD group
- Bar-Sela 2019: fatigue, dizziness, disorientation, anxiety or hallucinations in 3 of 4 patients taking the 10 mg capsule (9.5 mg THC); dose lowered to 5 mg
- Brisbois 2011 and Côté 2016: no difference from placebo in side effects
Monitoring done in studies
- Prescription CBD label: liver tests at baseline and at months 1, 3 and 6, then periodically; stop if ALT/AST >3×ULN + bilirubin >2×ULN, or if transaminases stay >5×ULN
- INR in people taking warfarin
- Drug blood levels in people taking everolimus/tacrolimus/sirolimus
Who should be careful
- People with liver disease / liver metastases / on hepatotoxic treatment: with prescription CBD, ALT >3×ULN in 12–13% (placebo 1%), dose-dependent; in moderate/severe hepatic impairment the label specifies a lower starting dose
- People taking warfarin or clopidogrel and those at high risk of bleeding: there is an interaction mechanism (CYP2C9, CYP2C19); no clinical data have been reported showing that CBD directly increases bleeding risk
- Before surgery/procedures: ASRA 2023 recommends asking about cannabinoid use and including it in the anesthesia plan; the anesthesia team must be told
- People on immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors): there is an observational signal and a guideline warning
- People taking everolimus, tacrolimus, sirolimus or oral targeted drugs: CBD should not be added without consulting the oncologist/pharmacist
- Older adults, people taking many medicines, and those on sedatives/opioids: somnolence, dizziness, risk of falls; with THC-containing products, confusion and psychotomimetic effects
- Use for 'treating' tumors: uncontrolled case series are not evidence; ASCO strongly recommends against abandoning standard treatment
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding, history of psychiatric illness (with THC-containing products): cancer studies excluded these groups
- People with loss of appetite or unintended weight loss: CBD has not been shown to increase appetite; on the contrary, it may decrease appetite in some people. In controlled studies in Lennox–Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, appetite decreased in 16–22% of those taking the approved CBD medicine (5% with placebo), and 16% lost at least 5% of their weight (8% with placebo); the effect increased with dose (US product information, FDA). In a review of 11 randomized studies looking at the effect of CBD on appetite and weight, decreased appetite was more common with CBD in 7 studies; 5 of these were done with high doses in patients with severe epilepsy, and the review includes no studies in cancer patients (Pinto 2022, PMID 36180814).
Drug interactions
- Everolimus: exposure increased ~2.5-fold; label: start everolimus at a lower dose and monitor levels (high, human PK data)
- Tacrolimus, sirolimus, digoxin (P-gp substrates): the label states that levels may increase (moderate)
- Oral P-gp substrate chemotherapy/targeted drugs (e.g., many tyrosine kinase inhibitors): theoretical; no human data
- CYP2C19 substrates and prodrugs (clopidogrel): substrate levels rise, and the active metabolite of prodrugs may decrease; no human data for oncology drugs
- Warfarin: case report of INR rise; INR should be monitored
- CYP3A4 substrates (taxanes, irinotecan, docetaxel, many TKIs): midazolam unchanged on the label (licensed CBD 750 mg twice daily); a single dose of a CBD-dominant extract (640 mg CBD + 20 mg THC) increased midazolam AUC by 56% (Bansal 2023, PMID 37313955); herbal cannabis tea did not affect irinotecan and docetaxel PK (n=24); nabiximols did not affect temozolomide PK; these results cannot be generalized
- Immunotherapy: nivolumab response rate 15.9% vs. 37.5% in cannabis users (mostly THC-containing cannabis) (Taha 2019, PMID 30670598, n=140); in a prospective observational study, time to progression and survival were shorter (Bar-Sela 2020, PMID 32872248, n=102); causality not proven, no data specific to pure CBD
- Opioids: in MedCan1, CBD dose was unrelated to opioid use; no opioid-sparing effect shown with THC-containing products; somnolence increases with CNS depressants
- Citalopram/escitalopram: citalopram levels rose significantly in 6 patients who added CBD (200–800 mg/day) (Anderson 2021, PMID 34121064)
- Valproate and liver-toxic drugs (some chemotherapies, methotrexate): no data on use together with hepatotoxic chemotherapies
- Tamoxifen: in one case, endoxifen was found to be low with CBD 40 mg/day (Parihar 2020, PMID 33191836)
- No clinical studies reported with direct oral anticoagulants (apixaban, rivaroxaban)
Abbreviations: RCT, randomized controlled trial (a study in which participants are assigned to groups by chance); placebo, an inactive substance; SMD, OR and RR, effect measures used in analyses that pool studies; CYP, liver enzymes that break down medicines.
If you are considering CBD
- Tell your oncologist, and your dietitian if you have one, about your loss of appetite and weight loss; this helps plan the right support for you.
- If you are considering CBD or another herbal product, talk with your oncologist and pharmacist about its interactions with your cancer medicines.
- Be sure to mention it if you are using immunotherapy, everolimus or warfarin, or if you have a liver problem.
- If a product is being considered, check its label and its independent certificate of analysis; find out whether it contains THC.
Choose your age group, medicines and situation to prepare a short summary you can take to your doctor. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Bottom line
For loss of appetite and weight loss in cancer, CBD oil has not yet been tested in a randomized study in patients who have this problem; a small preliminary study saw no effect on lean body mass, and in a study of symptoms in advanced cancer, appetite did not improve any differently than in those taking an inactive oil. Large studies with THC-containing products also saw no clear benefit. Talking about your nutrition problems with your care team is the best way to find the right support for you.
Frequently asked questions
Does CBD oil work for loss of appetite and weight loss in cancer?
We do not know yet, because there is no controlled study testing pure CBD in cancer patients with loss of appetite. In a study done to relieve symptoms in advanced cancer, no difference in appetite was seen between those taking CBD oil and those taking an inactive oil. Large studies with THC-containing products also found no clear difference in appetite and quality of life compared with an inactive treatment (placebo).
Doesn't cannabis increase appetite?
There is a widespread belief that THC increases appetite. However, in large studies with cancer patients, THC-containing products did not increase appetite more than placebo; in one study, they were less effective than the appetite-stimulating medicine megestrol. In a small study of patients with taste and smell disorders, THC made food taste better, but total calorie intake was no different from that of those taking placebo. In a study of cancer pain, the appetite of those using a mouth spray containing THC and CBD fared worse over 2 weeks than that of those taking placebo. As for CBD, there is no randomized study in patients with loss of appetite. On the non-cancer Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss page, the evidence for THC appears as “Weak”, while on this page it appears as “Very weak”; the difference comes from the studies themselves. In loss of appetite related to HIV/AIDS, in a few small controlled studies, dronabinol, a synthetic THC, and smoked cannabis increased appetite or the amount eaten more than placebo (in the largest, a 139-patient study, the appetite score rose by an average of 38% with dronabinol and 8% with placebo). In cancer, however, in the two large studies mentioned above (243 and 469 patients), THC was superior neither to placebo nor to megestrol; reviews pooling these studies also rated the certainty of the result as low or very low.
Does CBD interact with my cancer medicines?
It may. CBD can slow the breakdown of some medicines in the body and can raise the levels of some cancer medicines, such as everolimus. There are no human data for many cancer medicines. That is why it is important to talk to your oncologist and pharmacist.
What is nabilone, and is it the same as CBD?
Nabilone is a prescription medicine with THC-like effects; it is not the same as CBD oil. In a small study of patients with lung cancer, those taking nabilone took in more carbohydrates, but appetite and weight were no different from those taking placebo; in another study during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, no difference was seen in appetite, weight or quality of life either.
Can CBD oil be obtained with a prescription for loss of appetite in cancer in Turkey?
In Turkey, products derived from cannabis are regulated by the Kenevirden Elde Edilen Ürünlere Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on Products Derived from Hemp) dated January 31, 2026. These products, including CBD, can be sold only in pharmacies. Those classified as medicines and health products are dispensed with a prescription; the regulation does not state a prescription requirement for supplement products and cosmetics with a THC content of at most 0.3%. As of October 2026, there is no approved CBD medicine in Turkey. If you are thinking of using it, talk to your doctor first.
References
Show 19 references
- Strasser 2006 (Cannabis-In-Cachexia-Study-Group). Phase III, double-blind RCT. PMID 16849753, doi:10.1200/JCO.2005.05.1847
- Jatoi 2002 (NCCTG). RCT. PMID 11786587, doi:10.1200/JCO.2002.20.2.567, IL-6 substudy of the same trial: Jatoi 2002, Support Care Cancer, PMID 11777191, change in IL-6 not different between groups)
- Turcott 2018. Double-blind pilot RCT. PMID 29550881, doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4154-9, NCT02802540, no results in the registry)
- Dominiak 2023. Non-randomized, controlled pilot study. PMID 37447339, doi:10.3390/nu15133014, NCT04585841, no results in the registry)
- Mücke 2018. Systematic review and meta-analysis (palliative medicine). PMID 29400010, doi:10.1002/jcsm.12273
- Brisbois 2011. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pilot study (phase 2, two centers). PMID 21343383, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdq727, NCT00316563, no results in the registry)
- Côté 2016. Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT (single center). PMID 26503964, doi:10.1177/0003489415612801
- Hardy 2023 (MedCan1-CBD). Double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation RCT (phase 2b, multicenter). PMID 36409969, doi:10.1200/JCO.22.01632, ANZCTR ACTRN12618001220257, protocol: Good 2019, PMID 31810437
- Hardy 2025 (MedCan2). Double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation RCT (multicenter). PMID 40705150, doi:10.1007/s00520-025-09763-5, ANZCTR ACTRN12619000037101, funding: Australian government (MRFF), the manufacturer provided the drug and placebo and had no role in the study
- Zylla 2026 (CanPan). Waitlist-controlled, open-label pilot RCT. PMID 41510814, doi:10.1200/OP-25-01165, NCT06605430, 16-week dose-response analysis: Gupta 2026, PMID 42767994
- Johnson 2010. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm RCT (multicenter). PMID 19896326, doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.06.008, NCT00674609, appetite result only in the registry)
- Maida 2008. Prospective observational study: patients taking and not taking nabilone were compared after balancing with propensity scores (not randomized or blinded). PMID 18402303
- Bar-Sela 2019. Open-label, single-group pilot study (no comparison group). PMID 31595793, doi:10.1177/1534735419881498, NCT02359123
- Simon 2022 (systematic review and meta-analysis). Systematic review and meta-analysis (RCTs and non-randomized studies; search up to May 2020). PMID 34881518, doi:10.1002/jcsm.12861
- Razmovski-Naumovski 2022 (systematic review). Systematic review (narrative synthesis and meta-analysis; search up to February 2021). PMID 35360989, doi:10.1177/02692163221083437
- Creangă-Murariu 2025 (systematic review and meta-analysis). Systematic review and meta-analysis (interventional and observational studies; search up to November 4, 2023). PMID 40748522, doi:10.1007/s11912-025-01695-x, PROSPERO CRD42023479375
- Aviram 2022. Prospective observational cohort (multicenter; no comparison group). PMID 35669038, doi:10.3389/fpain.2022.861037, 1-month study from the same research group: Aviram 2020, PMID 33265945, average weight did not change significantly)
- Kasvis 2022 (Quebec Cannabis Registry). Patient registry analysis (prospective registry; no comparison group). PMID 35723729, doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07193-1
- Stienrut 2024 (Thai national cohort). Prospective observational cohort (30 centers; no comparison group). PMID 39144529, doi:10.1159/000540153, Thai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20191231001. Funding: the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Health, which also makes the product, 9 of the 13 authors work in this department, the authors declared no conflicts of interest
Points that could not be verified from the full text
- The full text of Turcott 2018 (nabilone) is not open access; the information that there was no difference from placebo in appetite and weight and that the analysis was done with 33 patients was taken from the Simon 2022 and Ceolin 2024 reviews and from the ESMO 2021 cachexia guideline; whether the calorie increase differed significantly from placebo is not in the sources read. The appetite result of Johnson 2010 is not in the publication, only in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT00674609). For Strasser 2006, Jatoi 2002, Brisbois 2011, Côté 2016, Hardy 2023, Johnson 2010, Zylla 2026, Maida 2008, Kasvis 2022 and Razmovski-Naumovski 2022, only the PubMed abstract, the registry entry or the protocol was read (full text behind a paywall)
- Studies with unpublished results (October 2026): dronabinol vs. placebo in pancreatic cancer, 109 patients, phase 3 (NCT03984214, Austria; completed in September 2024, no results in the registry); a repeated crossover (N-of-1) study with cannabis oil for cancer symptoms, 91 patients (NCT03948074, Canada; completed in July 2025); a quality-of-life study with cannabis extract in oncology patients (NCT06097533, Germany; terminated early in February 2026); a phase I/IIb study with vaporized inhaled cannabis flower for cancer-related loss of appetite (Australia; only its sub-study based on patient interviews has been published)
Research history
Here we record what changed on this page, when and why, with dates. The newest change is at the top.
The evidence level text now uses the same level name as the top of the page; the level and the result did not change.
The last sentence of the page's short summary was rewritten in a calmer, more guiding tone: instead of "Talk to your doctor before you start.", it now says whom you can talk with, and about what, if you are considering CBD. The conclusion and the strength of evidence did not change.
The frequently asked questions now explain why the strength of evidence for THC-containing products is “Very weak” on this page and “Weak” on the Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss page: in loss of appetite related to HIV/AIDS, appetite or the amount eaten increased in a few small controlled studies; in two large studies with cancer patients, however, THC did no better than either placebo or the appetite stimulant megestrol, and reviews rated the certainty of this result as low or very low. No new study was added; the conclusion and the strength of evidence did not change.
Older changes (8)
October 2026 additional review: sources found for this page during the searches for other topics were read and added to the page. The nabilone dose in the Côté 2016 row was corrected based on the study characteristics table of Cochrane 2023 (after week 3, at most 2 mg/day, at most 4 tablets a day; the previous wording "at most 1 mg twice a day" was a review's interpretation). A cohort without a comparison group that followed 2,873 cancer patients in Thailand for 3 months (Stienrut 2024; about 0.2 mg of THC a day) was added; the improvement seen in the appetite-loss score cannot be attributed to the product because the dose was so low and the study was uncontrolled. The conclusion and the strength of evidence did not change.
Related studies: Stienrut 2024 (Thai national cohort), published July 17, 2024 (PMID 39144529, doi:10.1159/000540153, Thai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20191231001. Funding: the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Health, which also makes the product, 9 of the 13 authors work in this department, the authors declared no conflicts of interest)
The source of the side-effect information in the Côté 2016 and Turcott 2018 rows is now stated clearly: both are taken from the table of a systematic review (Ceolin 2024); the full texts of the studies could not be read. The conclusion and the strength of evidence did not change.
Display fix: internal working file names left in the text were removed; content and evidence did not change.
In October 2026, PubMed, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov and Europe PMC were searched systematically; 13 studies were added: 6 randomized studies measuring appetite or taste perception in cancer patients (dronabinol, nabilone, pure CBD oil, an oil containing THC and CBD, a mouth spray containing THC and CBD, medical cannabis), 1 comparative observational study with nabilone, 1 open-label study with a THC-rich cannabis extract, 3 systematic reviews and 2 real-world studies. The product type of the nabilone study (Turcott 2018) was corrected; its result was completed to also show that, among the registered primary outcomes, there was no difference from placebo in appetite and weight. Group sizes, the weight result, limitations, the registry number or the second publication of the same trial were added to the Strasser 2006, Jatoi 2002 and Dominiak 2023 rows. It was added to the text that appetite was also measured in a pure CBD study in advanced cancer and was no different from placebo, and that in a study of cancer pain, appetite fared worse with a mouth spray containing THC and CBD than with placebo. Information that CBD may decrease appetite was added to the "Who should be careful" section (US product information for approved CBD; a review of 11 randomized studies, Pinto 2022). The conclusion and the strength of evidence did not change.
Related studies: Brisbois 2011, published September 2011 (PMID 21343383, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdq727, NCT00316563, no results in the registry)); Côté 2016, published April 2016 (PMID 26503964, doi:10.1177/0003489415612801); Hardy 2023 (MedCan1-CBD), published March 1, 2023 (PMID 36409969, doi:10.1200/JCO.22.01632, ANZCTR ACTRN12618001220257, protocol: Good 2019, PMID 31810437); Hardy 2025 (MedCan2), published July 24, 2025 (PMID 40705150, doi:10.1007/s00520-025-09763-5, ANZCTR ACTRN12619000037101, funding: Australian government (MRFF), the manufacturer provided the drug and placebo and had no role in the study); Zylla 2026 (CanPan), published January 9, 2026 (PMID 41510814, doi:10.1200/OP-25-01165, NCT06605430, 16-week dose-response analysis: Gupta 2026, PMID 42767994); Maida 2008, published March 2008 (PMID 18402303); Bar-Sela 2019, published 2019 (PMID 31595793, doi:10.1177/1534735419881498, NCT02359123); Simon 2022 (systematic review and meta-analysis), published February 2022 (PMID 34881518, doi:10.1002/jcsm.12861); Razmovski-Naumovski 2022 (systematic review), published June 2022 (PMID 35360989, doi:10.1177/02692163221083437); Creangă-Murariu 2025 (systematic review and meta-analysis), published September 2025 (PMID 40748522, doi:10.1007/s11912-025-01695-x, PROSPERO CRD42023479375); Aviram 2022, published May 2022 (PMID 35669038, doi:10.3389/fpain.2022.861037, 1-month study from the same research group: Aviram 2020, PMID 33265945, average weight did not change significantly)); Kasvis 2022 (Quebec Cannabis Registry), published October 2022 (PMID 35723729, doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07193-1); Johnson 2010, published February 2010 (PMID 19896326, doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.06.008, NCT00674609, appetite result only in the registry))
The names of the finding labels were simplified: on this page the "No benefit seen" label became "No effect found." The assessment did not change.
PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for newly published and previously missed clinical studies. Study added: Dominiak 2023. The conclusion and the strength of evidence did not change.
Related studies: Dominiak 2023, published July 1, 2023 (PMID 37447339, doi:10.3390/nu15133014, NCT04585841, no results in the registry))
The full texts of the studies were reread and the information on the page was checked against its sources. Corrected: drug interaction notes. No points remain that could not be verified from the full text (previously 3 items). The conclusion and the strength of evidence did not change.
Page published. In this first assessment, 4 studies were reviewed.