Cannabis-Based Superbug Killer
McMaster Cannabis Research Finds CBG Wipes Out Superbug Common in Hospitals – LPC
Researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. found a cannabis-based superbug killer. That compound, cannabigerol (CBG), was particularly potent at killing MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA is one of the most common hospital superbugs.
CBG also killed “persister” cells particularly resistant to antibiotics. These are the cells that can cause the infection to “come back” once a patient feels better. It also helped kill Gram-negative bacteria, the hardest to kill because they have an outer layer. CBG on its own couldn’t kill Gram-negative superbugs like Acinetobacter baumannii. But using CBG with polymyxin B, another antibiotic which can penetrate the outer membrane, wiped out the superbug.
To discover a cannabis-based superbug killed would be a huge leap forward. Antibiotic resistance has become a major threat to public health. Microbes can quickly mutate to protect themselves against antibiotics. It’s similar to humans getting a flu shot to build resistance against the flu. Doctors need new drugs to fight these types of infections.
Cannabis-Based Superbug Killer Not the First – LPC
CBG may be a promising cannabis-based superbug killer, but it’s not the only one. Last year, Australian scientists announced breakthroughs using CBD antibiotics to kill superbugs.
Cannabis compounds have also been found to help other conditions such as PTSD, epilepsy, and even opioid addiction.
One of the difficulties researching areas like a cannabis-based superbug killer is that cannabis is still an illegal drug in most countries. Scientists in Canada and the US say that cannabis research restrictions are a danger to public health. Even though cannabis is legal in Canada, researchers have reported that finding cannabis for research use involves a large amount of red tape.
The safety aspect is another issue. Doctors at the Canadian Medical Association Journal publicly questioned the medical risks and benefits of cannabis.
Lead researcher Dr. Eric Brown noted that because of this, any treatment using a cannabis compound is years away. “There is much work to do to explore the potential of the cannabinoids as antibiotics from the safety standpoint,” he said.
That may be true in many cases. But it the case of superbugs where the treatment options are limited and the consequences are potentially death, doctors may see the benefits clearly outweighing the risks.
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