New Strain of Marijuana Doesn't Get You High

Israel firm made ​​a new breakthrough in health by developing new strains of marijuana for medicinal purposes is not intoxicating. The strain of marijuana called Avidekel developed by Tikun Olam, a government-approved medical marijuana plantation in northern Israel.

Avidekel is a strain of marijuana which contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in very low levels, ie less than 1 percent. THC is the psychoactive substance in marijuana that makes users feel "high" aka "stoned".

A worker tends to cannabis plants at a plantation near the northern Israeli city of Safed June 11, 2012. It is here, at a medical marijuana plantation atop the hills of the Galilee, where researchers say they have developed marijuana that can be used to ease the symptoms of some ailments without getting patients high. (Picture from: http://www.calgaryherald.com/)

"The Avidekel will not make users feel stoned," said Israeli government. Although not intoxicating, Avidekel still have the drug benefit. Because the content of THC in Avidekel far less than the most popular Tikun Olam marijuana containing 23 percent THC.

A photograph of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. (Picture from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/)

THC is the substance most popular of over 60 different cannabinoid found in marijuana. One of the most important cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD), a substance that is useful for anti-inflammatory. With low doses of THC, Avidekel can be used as a painkiller without making users feel high.

Raphael Mechoulam.

"The 'high' effects is just a side effect of marijuana use is not always desirable. For some people, it's not even fun," said Zack Klein, head of development at Tikun Olam. Tikun Olam develop Avidekel since six months ago. Previously, it creates a strain of cannabis plantations rich in CBD since 2009.

Raphael Mechoulam, professor of medicinal chemistry from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, assess Avidekel somewhat different than other types of cannabis. "There is a possibility of CBD and THC concentration ratio in Avidekel is the highest among the marijuana production to another company," he said.

However, according to him, still keep track of the exact type of drug marijuana is not an easy matter. "All the industry is not organized, so people do not know exactly what each company did," Mechoulam said. *** [REUTERS | LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3935]

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