Cannabis is well-known for its intoxicating effects through the molecule tetrahydrocannabinol– which is better known as THC. Tons of research has found that it does more than get you high. It can help ailments such as nausea & vomiting, anxiety, appetite loss, glaucoma, epilepsy and seizures, chronic pain and a plethora of other medical issues.

In recent years, however, its cousin molecule cannabidiol (CBD) is getting its time to shine because it’s been shown to have a lot of the same properties– all without getting you high. Although federal laws and regulations have hindered research effects, it’s slowly but surely becoming more mainstream and medical professionals are learning more about CBD every day.

One of the new things that is being studied about CBD is its effectiveness against microbial bacteria. And that’s what we’re going to explore in this article. Let’s see what the science has to say about it.

Does CBD Kill Bacteria?

The simple answer is yes. However, it’s a bit more nuanced than that. Let’s first talk a bit about the two main types of bacteria: Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. This name refers to the test called Gram’s stain protocol used to detect bacteria in a tissue sample. Simply put, it uses a purple dye, and it will stick to certain bacteria and make them a deep violet color– which is Gram positive. On the other end, Gram-negative bacteria appear a light pink color because they don’t hold on to the dye as well.

CBD has been shown to be effective against both variants with a recent 2021 study published in Nature Journal showing that just a tiny amount of CBD can destroy Gram-positive bacteria. These include bacteria such as Clostridioidez difficile (known for colon infections), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA which is known for staph infections), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (known for causing pneumonia and pneumococcal meningitis which attack the brain and spinal cord).

As for Gram-negative bacteria, there were 20 types in the study. And although they are notorious for being resistant to our best antibiotics and particularly deadly, researchers did find CBD to be extremely effective against four. These include the bacteria Neisseria meningitides (meningitis), Leigionella pneumophila ( Legionnaires disease), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea), and Moraxella catarrhalis (bronchitis).

While there were reported conflicts of interest as the research was funded by a supplier CBD topical creams, Botanix, the research is still promising and could lead to another weapon in our arsenal to fight against bacteria. What makes CBD special too is that many of these bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics, and the use of antibiotics does come with its own side effects. However, CBD’s side effects are rather mild– ranging from dry mouth to diarrhea and fatigue.

And some more good news is there have been separate studies that report the same findings. For instance, a study published to PubMed found that CBD is also good at fighting the bacteria that cause salmonella, Salmonella typhimurium. And that study didn’t have any conflicts of interest reported by the researchers.

CBD Kills Bacteria but How?

To understand why CBD is so effective against bacteria, we must first explain how bacteria defend themselves against even our most powerful antibiotics.

The first is developing enzymes that are essentially poisonous to the antibiotics and kill them that way. The second tactic is evolving the way their membranes are shaped, which makes it difficult for antibiotics to get inside and kill them from the inside. Finally, the third strategy is simply developing a pump system that removes the antibiotics if they’re able to infiltrate the bacteria’s membrane.
However, CBD uses a different approach that makes it difficult for bacteria to develop defenses against. Similar to soap, CBD doesn’t need to pass through the membrane to destroy the bacteria. Instead, it attacks the membrane itself and rips the bacteria apart and it spills out its insides in the process.

It’s important to keep in mind that there are some antibiotics that work in the same way, such as penicillin. And bacteria have found a way to adapt to those, but there’s something special about CBD and the research is still ongoing while scientists try to figure out the exact mechanics behind it.

Are There Any Drawbacks to CBD as an Antimicrobial?

Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks that keep it from being the end-all, be-all drug that fights against bacteria. Mainly, CBD binds extremely easily to proteins, which are in abundance in the human body.

So let’s say you have an infection with one of the above-mentioned bacteria and want to use CBD as a treatment. Most of the CBD will instead bind to the protein inside your bloodstream, leaving very little to actually fight against the bacteria. And even if the CBD is injected or reaches the desired location where the bacteria is, it’s likely other proteins you naturally produce will attract it instead.
To make this all simple– CBD isn’t targeted enough to make it an effective treatment for infections and there needs to be more research done to figure out how to do so. That means you should still go to the doctor and look for other treatments instead of smoking CBD plant or using CBD oil to treat an infection.

What Can I Do With CBD?

Although the research is still out on the antibacterial properties, it’s still widely accepted CBD is effective against other ailments such as pain, nausea, depression, and anxiety.

If you’re wanting to use it, there are various methods available. For one, there’s flower high in CBD and low in THC, meaning you can get all the benefits without being high. There are also topical creams and salves you can apply directly to the body for muscle and joint pains. You can also take CBD oil orally to achieve the same effects.