Study says smoking marijuana helps heal broken bones

A study by Israeli scientists has shown that smoking marijuana, might help in curing broken bones.

The team from Tel Aviv University and University of Hebrew, both in Israel, had discovered that utilising the non-psychotropic element in Marijuana, namely ''cannabinoid cannabidiol'' (CBD) helped considerably in curing broken bones.

For the study, the team used rats that suffered fractures in their mid-femoral region and only after eight weeks, they noticed that CBD – even after keeping secluded from ''tetrahydrocannabinol'' (THC) – the chief psychoactive element of cannabis, noticeably boosted the curing process of the femora.

According to Dr Yankel Gabet of Tel Aviv University who jointly led the study with late Itai Bab of University of Hebrew, CBD solely boosted the ''maturation of the collagenous matrix'' that was the base for ''new mineralization of bone tissue.''

He added, ''After being treated with CBD, the healed bone will be harder to break in the future.''

The research team injected one section of rats with a mixture of THC and CBD, while another was given only CBD.

After scrutinising the running of THC and CBD together, they discovered that CBD alone incited the curing process of the bone fractures.

The same team of Gabet and Itai had earlier found that cannabinoid receptors in human bodies, accelerated development of bones and constrained its loss.

The results of the study point to the potential health benefits of marijuana according to commentators.

Medicinal marijuana is already known to reduce the severity of a number of adverse effects associated with chemotherapy in cancer patients. Marijuana is also used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

In earlier research, Gabet's team discovered, the body's cannabinoid receptors ''stimulated bone formation and inhibited bone loss.'' The findings opened doors to how marijuana could treat osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases, according to the researchers.