Cannabis 'could help protect bones in later life' - scientists

Cannabis could protect bones from weakening in later life, scientists said today.

A study on mice showed that while properties of the plant can reduce strength in the young, it may guard against osteoporosis.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh said a molecule in the body, which can be activated by cannabis, is "key" to the development of the bone disease.

It was not previously known whether the results would be positive or negative.

The study on mice showed that compounds similar to those found in cannabis decreased bone loss in older mice and prevented the accumulation of fat in bones.

The same study showed an increase in the rate bone tissue was destroyed in young mice.

The university said bone disease affects up to 30% of women and 12% of men at some point in life.

Stuart Ralston, the Arthritis Research Campaign professor of rheumatology at the university, said: "This is an exciting step forward, but we must recognise that these are early results and more tests are needed on the effects of cannabis in humans to determine how the effects differ with age in people.

"We plan to conduct further trials soon and hope the results will help to deliver new treatments that will be of value in the fight against osteoporosis."

Prof Ralston said that smoking cannabis with tobacco is "bad at any age" for bones.

He said the "psychotropic effects" of the drug "might increase the risk of falls" for an older person - which could also lead to broken bones.

He added: "The ideal way forward would be to develop a cannabis-type drug that did not go to the brain but was targeted to the periphery."