The worldwide legal marijuana market is estimated reach $66.3 billion by the end of 2025, with both medical and recreational cannabis continuing to grow significantly.
Another report shows that sales from medical marijuana alone could be enough to push the industry to achieve that $66-billion milestone. Medical marijuana was already worth $13.4 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $44.4 billion by 2024.
Whatever the case may be, experts are one in saying that the legal market is receiving a significant push from the growing adoption and demand for marijuana-based pharmaceutical products. A growing number of users are swearing by its efficacy in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and other chronic pain as well as other neurological conditions.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has in fact approved the first purified drug substance made from marijuana last year. The drug is Epidiolex and was approved for the treatment of two rare and severe forms of epilepsy—the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome—in kids two years and older. Epidiolex is also the first approved drug for the treatment of Dravet syndrome.
In June, one study looked into cannabidiol (CBD) as an effective form of an antibiotic drug.
CBD as antibiotic for Superbug
A group of researchers from The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience’s Center for Superbug Solutions announced the results of a study conducted on an early stage CBD drug. Specifically, the study looked into the ability of the CBD to treat skin conditions that have evolved to become highly resistant to the usual over the counter antibiotic.
The research found that CBD is active against Gram-positive bacteria. Its efficacy is seen even in fighting serious infections such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. CBD’s performance was tantamount to using the more popular antibiotic drugs such as vancomycin or daptomycin. The study also found that CBD’s efficacy did not wane even after extended use, which is normally the case among common drugs.
“Given cannabidiol’s documented anti-inflammatory effects, existing safety data in humans, and potential for varied delivery routes, it is a promising new antibiotic worth further investigation,” said lead researcher Dr. Mark Blaskovich.
“The combination of inherent antimicrobial activity and potential to reduce damage caused by the inflammatory response to infections is particularly attractive,” he added.
The results of the study are currently at a preliminary stage and users are advised against self-medication using their CBD products. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
CBD as a drug
CBD can supposedly relieve anxiety, chronic pain, anxiety, and other conditions so much that its legalization in many countries is being pushed by advocates around the world. These purported health benefits were actually the foundation through which the multi-billion cannabis industry was built upon, even before the advent of recreational use.
The legalization of CBD still has limitations at the federal level, that not even 2018 Farm Bill could address. The first public hearing conducted by the FDA regarding the issue had also opened more questions than answers.
While many first-hand users swear by its health benefits, the government wants more concrete evidence and studies to prove its efficacy and successful results.
