Today, there’s more study of cannabis than ever before. However, researchers say we still need more cannabis research and testing. Our explainer will show why continued cannabis research is so vital.
Better Utilize Its Medicinal Qualities
Although most people use cannabis as a recreational drug, we can’t forget that it was for medical purposes that the US first legalized cannabis. Its medicinal properties are one of the prime reasons for its recreational legalization in some states. We know it can be beneficial to patients, but there’s still more research and study needed on the medicinal qualities of cannabis.
Today, researchers are extracting cannabinoids from the flower to better identify and develop the varying strains of cannabis. With this research and development, we can test and find the most beneficial strains for patients with specific ailments like neurological conditions so that they get the best medicine possible.
Develop New Strains
Along with identifying the cannabis strains that best treat specific ailments in patients, scientists can also use research to develop new strains for the same purpose. There’s evidence that cannabis medicine dates back thousands of years, but researchers still believe the flower has more potential with enough time and study.
Since physicians prescribe cannabis for various ailments—from seizures and Parkinson’s disease to back pain—there will be a wide variety of patients. By developing new strains, scientists can unlock the full potential and medicinal qualities of cannabis, leading to more effective treatments.
Ensure a Safe Product and Usage
With recent recreational legalization efforts, more people in the US are using cannabis than ever before—nearly 50 million users. More users mean more cannabis growers, and not all will be as safe or unwilling to cut corners.
With more people using it than ever, the safe consumption of cannabis has never been more critical. The risk of contaminants in cannabis is just as prevalent with legalization. It’s not uncommon for cannabis to contain traces of heavy metals, which can cause adverse health effects.
There’s Still Much We Don’t Know
Researchers have been studying cannabis and its effects on people for decades. Still, with recent legalization efforts, they have a more extensive and diverse group of people to examine than ever. We may know a lot, but there are still many more questions about cannabis scientists still want to answer, like:
- Long-term health consequences of cannabis use
- Cannabis legalization’s effect on the opioid epidemic
- How cannabis use affects neurological disorders
- How effective cannabis is as a cancer therapy drug
With more data and resources at their disposal, researchers could answer many of these questions and more, which is why we need more cannabis research and testing.
