A new scientific review on the insecticidal potential of cannabis concludes that it’s “proved to be a promising plant in terms of mortality and evidenced effects on insect fertility, birth rates, and adult emergence”—findings that could one day offer the possibility of new products to help manage insects that spread deadly diseases.
While the researchers said the study “revealed a potential insecticidal effect” of cannabis essential oils, extracts and nanoemulsions, they also noted that available research on the issue is slim. For most insect species, there was only a single study available, and the experiments were inconsistent in terms of product formulations and methodology.
“Different Cannabis formulations showed an insecticidal effect on the developmental stages of five species of medically important insects,” the report says, noting that findings showed the products showed “evident” potential in killing eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. As to the action of Cannabis on the reproductive patterns, the potential use of this plant that has ovicidal, larvicidal, pupicidal and adulticidal properties is evident, but also with regard to aspects of fecundity, fertility, birth rate and adult in-sect’s emergence.
