Invented: Marijuana that doesn’t get you high
An Israeli firm introduces a new strain of weed called Avidekel, which offers the substance’s health benefits — without the special side effect
Although it appears that the Obama administration is cracking down on medical marijuana, a number of the drug’s health benefits have become increasingly indisputable. One Israeli company hopes that it can create a middle ground: Tikun Olam has successfully created a strain of weed called Avidekel that provides many of the helpful medicinal effects of cannabis minus one notable differentiator — it doesn’t get you high. “Whyyyyyyyyy?” asks Victoria Kekiepmis at the Village Voice. Here, a brief guide to the weed world’s version of O’Douls:
Why invent such a thing? Sometimes getting high is an “unwanted side effect,” says Zack Klein, head of development at Tikun Olam, the company that developed the plant. Marijuana contains a number of proven health benefits thanks to more than 60 kinds of cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), a substance that possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
In Israel, where marijuana is illegal except for medicinal use, more than 9,000 people use the drug to treat illnesses like cancer, Parkinson’s, Crohn’s disease, PTSD, and more. But cannabis’ most infamous cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), also gets you stoned, which is less than desirable when you need to focus in any way.
How did they develop Avidekel?
Full story at The Week.
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