A new study takes a look at how marijuana may help heal broken bones. Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University found that CBD, a non-psychotropic component of marijuana, strengthened fractured bones during their healing process.

CBD, or cannabinoid cannabidiol, doesn't make you feel high—it's different from THC, the major psychoactive component in marijuana. Researchers found that when they gave a group of lab rats with leg fractures CBD, their bones were noticeably stronger after eight weeks. Researchers also tested what happened when they gave the rats a mixture of CBD and THC, but found that "CBD alone" was useful as therapy.

"We found CBD alone to be sufficiently effective in enhancing fracture healing," said Dr. Yankel Gabet, one of the lead researchers. "Other studies have also shown CBD to be a safe agent, which leads us to believe we should continue this line of study in clinical trials to assess its usefulness in improving human fracture healing."

Gabet and his colleagues also found that the application of CBD to bone fractures can make those bone harder to break in the future.

[via the American Friends of Tel Aviv University]