As cannabis legalization continues to increase globally, researchers are trying to catch up outdated research on cannabis. These researchers want to investigate how cannabis might impact health in significant ways. One question is whether cannabis has genotoxic effects – the ability to damage genetic information within a cell, which can lead to mutations like cancer. But a recent study has shed some light on this particular question.
The researchers on this study tested a cannabis extract and found that it showed no significant genotoxic effects in any of the tested models.
Cannabis is gaining popularity for its recreational and medical effects, but some worry that it hasn’t been evaluated thoroughly enough to be considered safe. One worry is the potential for genotoxicity. Genotoxic substances interact with DNA, and can cause changes to its structure or function, leading to mutations. While mutations are needed to maintain genetic diversity, they can also lead to harmful mutations like cancer.
The authors conclude that “These results suggest that Cannabis sativa extract does not exhibit mutagenic or genotoxic potential at doses compatible with those commonly required for the clinical management of conditions such as anxiety, chronic pain, and epilepsy, among others.”
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