The demand for cannabis products has grown astronomically over the last 20 years. The increased demand has directly correlated with states legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical purposes. A big downside is that science is not keeping up with the demand. That is not good by any measure.

The consensus is that most things cannabis related do not pose serious risks to human health. That much is good. But because science is not keeping up, producers are able to claim all sorts of things that may not necessarily be true. Things are not helped by cannabis advocates more than happy to push the merits of CBD and THC at any cost.

If we compare the current cannabis craze to regenerative medicine, we see some clear contrasts that suggest we tap the brakes on the whole cannabis thing. Otherwise, we run the risk of being led astray.

  • A Lack of Proven Efficacy

Regenerative medicine relies on the use of alternative therapies designed to regenerate tissue in order to promote healing. The three most commonly utilized regenerative therapies are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, stem cell therapy, and prolotherapy. All three are safe when practiced according to FDA guidelines.

Regenerative medicine’s main criticism is a lack of proven efficacy. In other words, the amount of hard-and-fast clinical data proving the therapies work is lacking. As such, there is no shortage of critics ready and willing to denounce regenerative medicine in its entirety.

By the same token, the efficacy of medical cannabis is largely unproven. The lack of clinical evidence in support of medical cannabis is as obvious and profound as the lack of evidence for regenerative medicine. Yet there are far fewer medical experts willing to criticize cannabis to the same degree as regenerative therapies.

  • Taking Advantage of Patients

The lack of clinical evidence leads regenerative medicine critics to accuse manufacturers and practitioners of taking advantage of patients. They are said to be taking patient money without giving them any relief in return. How interesting that the same accusations are not leveled against the medical cannabis industry.

There is no way to know for sure, but how many cannabis patients spend good money on medical therapies that don’t really work? How many of them try one product after another only to find little to no relief?

  • The Health Supplement Market

Setting direct therapies aside, there is an entire health supplement market ready and waiting for cannabis producers. As explained by Salt Lake City Utah’s Beehive Farmacy, THC is not the only cannabinoid in cannabis plants. There are over a hundred of them, including CBD.

CBD is one of the hottest health supplements on the market right now. Manufacturers love it because it remains mostly unregulated and is fully legal. No special license is required to either manufacture CBD products or grow the hemp necessary to harvest CBD.

There are all sorts of health supplements that are supposed to do great things for consumers. As long as manufacturers are careful not to make any direct claims or promises, they can imply all sorts of things that are not true. And if they can do that with things like vitamins and fish oil, they can do the same thing with CBD.

None of this is to say that medical cannabis does not work. It is not to say that medical cannabis isn’t worth pursuing. Rather, is to suggest that we might need to slow down a bit. Cannabis science is not keeping up with the demand. And demand is being fueled by an industry benefiting from an explosion in public support. It is not good.