Cannabis and Parasites: What Research Shows

Cannabis versus brain-eating parasites? New research shows Cannabis sativa and cannabinoids can actually kill deadly parasites.

Researchers tested them against parasites that cause amoebic brain disease, cerebral malaria, brain toxoplasmosis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. They also looked at certain worm infections and even ticks.

The main finding is that cannabis extracts and cannabinoids often kill or slow down these parasites.

This effect was fairly consistent across the studies.

Important caution: the body's own cannabinoid system is involved.

Depending on the parasite, activating or blocking these receptors sometimes helped fight the infection, and sometimes it made things worse.