By Veronica Morgan
Israel’s Ministry of Health encourages research to aid medical issues.
A study from Tel Aviv University published last week, proves once again, the medicinal benefits of Marijuana. University officials released a statement declaring the CBD in marijuana “significantly helps heal bone fractures.”
Dr. Yankel Gabet led the research with the recently deceased Prof. Itai Bab of Hebrew University’s Bone Laboratory. “The clinical potential of cannabinoid-related compounds is simply undeniable at this point,” Dr. Gabet explained. “While there is still a lot of work to be done to develop appropriate therapies, it is clear that it is possible to detach a clinical therapy objective from the psychoactivity of cannabis. CBD, the principal agent in our study, is primarily anti-inflammatory and has no psychoactivity.”
Cannabis has two separate chemical structures. THC is the psychoactive element, while CBD (cannabidiol), the second element, seems to be the critical link to healing. Previously, researchers have found that CBD is highly effective for nerve pain, seizures, and dementia related illness. Now we can add bone strength to the list of medicinal applications.
Elderly patient receives his prescription at Israeli pharmacy.
Using rats with broken bones as their test subjects, the scientists injected a CBD only form of cannabis into the rodents. Those treated with CBD, not only healed faster, their bones were stronger following the treatment.
Dr. Gabet explained how human anatomy is linked to cannabinoids, stating, “The skeleton, itself, is regulated by cannabinoids.” Gabet also expressed his belief that there are no dangerous side effects, so human testing should begin straight away. “We found CBD alone to be sufficiently effective in enhancing fracture healing,” Dr. Gabet said. “Other studies have also shown CBD to be a safe agent, which leads us to believe we should continue this line of study in clinical trials to assess its usefulness in improving human fracture healing.”
In the United States, federal law has made it difficult to study these effects, or to develop treatments from it, while states have been trying to decriminalize use. In Israel, although it is illegal for citizens to use, researchers have a free reign. Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s, Professor Raphael Mechoulam, performed the first medical marijuana studies in the 1960. The police supplied him with the drugs to study.
A northern Israel dispensary provides medicine in the form of “cigarettes. “
The Ministry of Health in Israel issued the first approval for Medicinal Cannabis in 1992. They continue to fund studies, and are working with pharmaceutical companies to develop beneficial treatment regimens. One such treatment, which has been approved for use in Israel, comes in the form of an inhaler that distributes vaporized cannabis in measured doses. More studies are needed to fully explore the benefits of medicinal marijuana.
