One of the bigger problems we’re beginning to face is the rise of drug resistant bacteria thanks to an overuse of antibioctics. MRSA is a particularly nasty bug that has been increasingly causing problems around the world and may be a sign of things to come. Now new research seems to indicate that Marijuana may be useful in killing it:

Researchers in Italy and the U.K. tested five major marijuana chemicals called cannabinoids on different strains of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). All five showed germ-killing activity against the MRSA strains in lab tests. Some synthetic cannabinoids also showed germ-killing capability. The scientists note the cannabinoids kill bacteria in a different way than traditional antibiotics, meaning they might be able to bypass bacterial resistance.

At least two of the cannabinoids don’t have mood-altering effects, so there could be a way to use these substances without creating the high of marijuana.

[...] In the study, published in the Journal of Natural Products, researchers call for further study of the antibacterial uses of marijuana. There are “currently considerable challenges with the treatment of infections caused by strains of clinically relevant bacteria that show multi-drug resistance,“ the researchers write. New antibacterials are urgently needed, but only one new class of antibacterial has been introduced in the last 30 years. “Plants are still a substantially untapped source of antimicrobial agents,“ the researchers conclude.

If the study is backed up by further replications then weed may finally have a reason to be at least partially legalized, though the form of any drugs created from it would probably not be such that you’d smoke it. Just the same there are laws that would have to be repealed in order to move forward with it as a medical treatment. Considering the threat posed by MRSA this is a welcome discovery indeed.