You may have heard the story of Benton Mackenzie, a middle-aged Iowan who died several months after the state took him into custody for growing his own cannabis. What’s compelling about Benton’s case is how he managed to keep his aggressive angiosarcoma cancer at stage 1 for two years before his arrest. And why it took only six weeks for it to morph into stage 4.
We can’t say for certain that it was the cannabis that kept his tumors from spreading. But the fact that it only took six weeks for his cancer to progress to stage 4 after the cannabis was taken away from him is leading a lot of patients to wonder if Benton was on to something. And Benton’s story isn’t the only like it. Cure Your Own Cancer is a for-profit site that has compiled dozens of video testimonials from patients claiming to have cured their cancer with cannabis oil. You can watch them yourself here.
Benton’s family has promised to get back to us with the exact protocol he used to treat himself. This is what we know so far:
1. Benton used a high CBD strain of cannabis
Benton used a strain of cannabis high in Cannabidiol (CBD), an ingredient that (unlike THC) does not make you high. We talked to Denise at Synergy Wellness, a California-based collective that recieves feedback from their patients about the benefits of high CBD strains. They gave us the following recommendations:
Valentine X
25:1 CBD:THC
Valentine X has 25 parts CBD to 1 part THC, which means it won’t get you high. It’s known for its powers over epilepsy (St. Valentine is the patron Saint of epilepsy) but is also recommended by Synergy for cancer. It’s side benefits include the reduction of inflammation, pain, nervous disorders, and an increase in creativity.
ACDC
21:1 CBD:THC
ACDC has 21 parts CBD to 1 part THC, and is a 50/50 sativa and indica blend. It’s a rarity to have such a high CBD content, which makes this strain ‘The Ultimate CBD Medicine,’ according to Synergy. It is known to shrink tumors, and reduce inflammation. It’s also good for anxiety, tremors, and epilepsy.
Sour Tsunami
17:10 CBD:THC
Sour Tsunami is another CBD rich strain known to shrink tumors and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It’s also good for inflammation, back pain, swelling, and headaches. It’s a sativa hybrid with very little psychoactive properties.
Omrita RX
9:10 CBD:THC
What’s interesting about Omrita RX is that it produces a lot of leaves that can be used for juicing. It is good for pain, inflammation, nausea and anxiety.
Canna Sue
13:10 CBD:THC
In addition to being anti-cancer, this strain is good for treating nausea, appetite stimulation, pain relief, cancer, anxiety, and convulsions. Canna Sue also helps with sleep and relaxation.
Harle Sue
9:7 CBD:THC
Harle Sue is known to raise energy levels, fight the inflammatory properties associated with tumors and cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
Please comment below if you have tried any of the strains above, or if you have your own preferences.
2. Benton had an aggressive form of cancer
A recent report by the Huffington Post says that CBD oil works best for aggressive cancers that are prone to spreading from one place in the body to another. Scientists Sean McAllister and Pierre Desprez explain that it’s because Cannabidol turns off the ID-1 gene, a gene that causes the cancer to spread. That means that high CBD oil is more likely to work on quickly-spreading cancers than on slow ones.
3. Benton processed the cannabis into an oil
If you have cancer and live in a state where medical marijuana is legal you can skip this step and purchase the oil from your local dispensary. Governing.com keeps an easy-to-read map of states where marijuana is legal here. If your state is in dark green, and has had time to license dispensaries in your area, you will be able to purchase marijuana legally with a recommendation from your doctor. The United Patients Group offers a step-by-step guide to getting your recommendation here.
You can find dispensaries near you by typing ‘dispensary’ into Google Maps. I like to use Google Maps for my phone, which you can download here for iPhone or here for Android. Click on a dispensary in your area and give them a call.
Ask the following four questions:
- Do they sell high CBD oil concentrate for treating cancer?
- Can you get it in capsules to take by mouth? (If not, you can always buy capsules online or at your local natural foods store and fill them yourself.)
- Do they have it in any of the strains listed above. If not, can they recommend a good high CBD strain based on other patients experience?
- What you’ll need to bring with you to your visit.
If you have opted to grow your own marijuana, or only have access to the cannabis plant, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make your own extraction at home. It’s a broken-down version of the tutorial Benton watched on Rick Simpson’s Youtube page here.
Benton told the Quad City Times that he needed about a quarter of a pound of marijuana per day to extract 4 ounces of CBD oil per week, the amount he used to treat himself. For smaller doses, Rick Simpson says that one ounce of plant material should produce between 2 and 4 grams of oil.
4. Benton took the oil by mouth and rubbed it directly onto his exposed tumors
Rick Simpson recommends the following dose per day:
- For the first four days: take 3 doses each half the size of a grain of rice per day
- Double the quantity every 4 days until you are taking 1 gram per day (takes about 36 days)
- Continue to consume 1 gram a day for the next 54 days, or for two weeks after your cancer is gone
- Maintain with 1 gram a month after treatment
You can learn more about Rick Simpson’s suggested dosing here.
Benton took a bit more than a gram a day, but everyone’s tolerance is different. It’s best to start small and see what works for you. Even the high CBD strains can cause change of state for some people.
You can split the dose between mouth and skin. But only rub the oil on your skin if your cancer is visible, like Benton’s. If so, try mixing it with coconut or olive oil to make it easier to spread. Cover the area with a bandage and change it every 3 or 4 days.
You can also take your dose in a capsule or put it directly into your mouth. Watch out, you may or may not like the taste. Benton also consumed cannabis in the form of smoothies and tinctures. This was in addition to, not as a substitute for, the CBD oil.
5. Benton lived in a state where cannabis is illegal
Even though a poll by Quinnipiac University shows that 81% of Iowans are in favor of legalizing marijuana for patients with serious medical conditions like Benton, Iowa has only approved the use of marijuana for a specific form of epilepsy. As a result, Benton and his family were forced to confront the legal system during an already difficult time in their lives. high CBD cannabis oil
If you think that’s not fair, you can take a moment to let your local representative know how you feel. Visit the Marijuana Policy Project here and use the pull-down menu to the right to choose your state. Once your state page loads, keep an eye out for links asking you to take action. Those are great because they take you to a page with a customizable message that you can send off to your representative in just a few seconds.
If you are a seriously ill patient, the Marijuana Policy Project invites you to email them with your story and zip code to learn how you can be of special help. They can be reached at state@mpp.org.
