The Month In... Research and Medicine

CBD vs superbugs

Australian researchers have shown that CBD kills a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria in cell cultures and in mice, including the pathogens causing gonorrhea, meningitis, and Legionnaires disease. The new study expands on previous work from the group, but covers a greater range of pathogens and explores the antibiotic activity of CBD chemical analogs. University of Queensland researchers partnered on the study with Botanix Pharmaceuticals, which already has a CBD-based topical in Phase II clinical trials for MRSA.

Marijuana for migraine? Maybe not

Using cannabis to treat migraines may cause “medication overuse” headaches (also known as rebound headaches), according to an as-yet-unpublished retrospective study that examines the medical records of 368 migraine patients, 150 of whom were using cannabis. The patients using cannabis were six-times more likely to suffer medication overuse headaches than those not using cannabis.

Cannabis improves symptoms in IBD

In a placebo-controlled clinical trial, smoking THC-rich cannabis improved symptoms in ulcerative colitis patients, but there was no detectable impact on inflammation in the gut. Could there be other mechanisms at play? The authors are ruling nothing out, pointing out that this 8-week study may have been too short to see an impact on inflammation. 

Cannabis vs opioids

A study combining data from CDC, US census, and Weedmaps.com finds that opioid-related mortality is lower in counties with more cannabis dispensaries. The link existed for both recreational and medical dispensaries. Plus, a new analysis by Scientus Pharma and the University of Toronto showed that opioid prescribing declined more rapidly after legalization of recreational use in Canada. However, previous studies on the association between cannabis legalization and opioid deaths have shown mixed results.