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by STEPHANIE STRAUBEL
Intern News Reporter
According to a recent structure-activity study by Italian professor Giovanni Appendino, there is enough evidence to suggest the cannabinoids in marijuana may provide a cure for a dangerous strain of staphylococcus infections.
The MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a super-bug, a strain of the infection that evolved from overuse of usually effective antibiotics, according to the study.
MRSA is a
particularly relevant threat to students on college campuses who are
likely to contract the infection from living in close quarters.
Taylor
Rushing, Mary S. Shook Student Health Services university physician
said as an individual physician he treats between three and five cases
of Staph every month, with about one MRSA case showing up.
Rushing said he estimates there could be up to 30 cases of Staph a month.
Students might not be aware they have MRSA until a culture is taken, he said.
Appendino
and his team of researchers struck gold while experimenting with
Cannabis sativa, which has been suspected of possessing antibacterial
properties.
The
scientific community has agreed there is too much uncertainty on the
matter and the treatment should not be applied to MRSA patients.
Christopher
T. Drew, junior recreation management major is president of
Appalachian’s Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Club.
“…[Scientists] need to do more research,” Drew said. “They still don’t know what cannabinoid [can be used as the cure].”
He said he does not agree with the hesitation to implement the cure due to political reasons.
“It makes me feel like not everyone’s interest is being taken into account,” Drew said.
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