Olivia Newton-John Supports Medical Marijuana, Uses It as Part of Her Cancer Care

Four months ago, Olivia Newton-John revealed to fans she had a relapse with breast cancer. On Sunday, in an interview with “60 Minutes” Australia, Newton-John shared how medical marijuana is helping her through the crippling pain.

Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, just days after her father died of cancer. She went through chemotherapy and a partial mastectomy, putting her cancer in remission. She then lost her sister Rona to brain cancer in 2013.

The “Grease” actress remained cancer-free for 20 years, until this past May, when she announced on Facebook she was canceling her tour because her breast cancer had metastasized to the sacrum, a large bone found at the base of the spine.

According to the National Cancer Institute, when cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes, tissues, organs and other distant parts of the body it is called metastatic cancer, or stage IV cancer.

After undergoing photo radiation therapy and natural wellness therapies, Newton-John returned to touring and even shared this message on Facebook, thanking her fans for their support:

In an interview with “60 Minute’s” Karl Stefanovic, Newton-John said recent crippling pain in her back left her unable to walk, leading her to postpone her current concerts to begin a series of treatments and radiation therapy.

She also shared how her husband has been growing medical marijuana on his cannabis farm for her, and it’s been an important part of her healing.

“My husband’s a plant medicine man so he grew cannabis for me and made tinctures for me to take for pain and inflammation and so many other things that cannabis can do,’ she told Stefanovic. “It’s an important part of treatment and it should be available.”

The growing popularity of medical marijuana and its legalization in 29 U.S. states have inspired celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg and Melissa Etheridge to endorse it. Now, Newton-John is the latest celebrity to join the support.

Medical marijuana was legalized in Australia last year, although current law states that only approved importers can buy it from overseas and store it for immediate distribution until domestic production meets local needs. Once these needs are met, authorized patients with painful and chronic conditions can have it prescribed by specialized doctors.

However, if Newton-John ever needs access to it in the U.S., her daughter Chloe recently moved to Oregon to open her own marijuana farm.

Despite the diagnosis, Newton-John remains positive and even tweeted about a performance she’s looking forward to next month:

Looking forward to singing with Amy and Beth in Midland, Michigan next month! Hope to see you there! https://t.co/k30npKUtb8

— Olivia Newton-John (@olivianj) September 11, 2017

The performance is for the musical LIV-ON, which was inspired by her sister Rona:

Editor’s note: Information regarding medical marijuana in Australia has been updated to reflect current law.