Produced by renowned news agency VICE for its new Viceland channel, Stoned Kids takes a close look at one of the latest trends in the world of medical cannabis. Cancer patients have used marijuana for decades to ease the side effects of toxic drug regimens. Some actually believed the drug had the power to cure their devastating disease. Some parents of children with cancer have started giving their offspring the drug in hopes of curing the disease. Is this a wise use of medical marijuana, or is there a hidden and unintended danger to the lives and well-being of these children?
Journalist Krishna Andavolu traveled to different regions and met with families receiving cannabis therapy. In a small town outside Portland, Oregon, we meet Lauranne, a precocious 7-year-old girl diagnosed with a fatal form of leukemia. After several largely unsuccessful rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and multiple bone marrow transplants, Lauranne’s mother decided to take care of her daughter herself, administering high-strength cannabis. In the months following this homemade treatment, her daughter’s white blood cell count increased significantly, as did her recovery and quality of life.
The science of medical marijuana for cancer is only just beginning to bear fruit and enter popular culture. Traditional anticancer therapies are a godsend when it comes to targeting affected cancer cells. These treatments destroy many healthy cells, and their side effects can be severe and devastating. Cannabis is believed to arm the defenses of the body’s healthy cells to attack and destroy the cancer cells themselves.
Another interviewee in the film is renowned oncologist Dr. Donald Abrams, who also supports the medical benefits of marijuana. He acknowledged that while the effectiveness of cannabis in controlling myriad symptoms of traditional treatments is unquestionable, much research is still needed to definitively establish the benefits and potential risks of using it as a medicine. But his insights, and the stories of other families whose lives have been undeniably improved by using the drug, are always hopeful. Stoned Kids makes a compelling case for a deeper investment in this research.
