The roots of the marijuana plant may hold medical value that scientists have barely begun to examine, according to a new scientific review. Researchers found that cannabis roots contain a range of bioactive compounds that have received almost no formal study despite centuries of use in traditional medicine.
According to a report by Marijuana Moment, the review identified several classes of compounds present in cannabis roots, including terpenes, alkaloids, and friedelin, a compound also found in other plants with a history of medicinal use. The review described the roots as having what researchers called underexplored medical potential.
Cannabis research has concentrated heavily on the plant's flowers and leaves, where the most well-known compounds, including THC and CBD, are found in the highest concentrations. The roots contain very little THC, which has meant they attracted less attention from both recreational users and researchers focused on the psychoactive properties of the plant.
But the absence of significant THC in the roots does not mean the roots are chemically inert. The review found that roots contain compounds with properties that have shown anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic effects in preliminary studies on other plants where similar compounds appear. The researchers stopped short of claiming proven medical benefits from cannabis roots specifically, noting that rigorous clinical research is lacking.
Historical records from several cultures document the use of cannabis roots in folk medicine. Ancient texts from China, Rome, and other civilizations describe applying cannabis root preparations to wounds, inflammation, and joint pain. The review treated those historical records as a starting point for identifying what deserves further investigation rather than as evidence of proven effectiveness.
The scientific review called for more structured research into cannabis roots as a separate subject from the rest of the plant. The authors argued that treating the root as a byproduct or waste material of cannabis cultivation has caused researchers to overlook a potentially significant source of novel compounds at a time when interest in plant-based medicine is growing.
The legal status of cannabis in many jurisdictions has complicated research across all parts of the plant, including the roots. In the United States, cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level, which creates regulatory barriers for researchers seeking funding and approval to conduct studies. Some researchers have conducted work using hemp, a variety of cannabis with very low THC content that was federally legalized in 2018, but hemp-specific findings do not always translate directly to cannabis more broadly.
The review did not present clinical trial data and did not recommend any specific medical applications. It framed its findings as a map of what remains unknown and argued that the gap in knowledge about cannabis roots represents an opportunity for pharmacological research.
