Pot for pets brings the battle on legalization to a whole new level.

The national debate over medical marijuana is taking an unexpected turn as more people are choosing pot to treat their ailing pets. They can use a special form of liquid cannabis, formulated just for animals. Some pet owners swear by the results, but these substances are not regulated and not proven, and now they’re starting to face dogged resistance, reports CBS News correspondent Mireya Villarreal.

From arthritis to chronic pain and anxiety, marijuana is being used to help pets cope with a variety of ailments.

In states where marijuana is legal, pet owners can find cannabis-based edibles, extracts and ointments. In places where medical marijuana is legal, some dispensaries are offering marijuana-laced dog treats along with a patient’s marijuana and edibles.

Most pot products for pets contain CBD, or cannabidiol, the chemical compound in marijuana that doesn’t get humans – or pets – high. These products contain only trace amounts of THC, the compound that induces psychoactive effects.

Just as marijuana can be used to treat a variety of health issues in humans, the drug can also be used to help Fido find relief. A recent article on SimpleWag touched on CBD treats, pointing out the benefits of these products. From cancer pain to inflammation, and aggression, CBD, as it would seem, offers the same benefits and relief to dogs that humans enjoy.

CBD treats may help dogs overcome a variety of issues.

But, veterinarians say there isn’t enough scientific data to show cannabis is safe and effective for treating animals. Although medical marijuana is legal in 28 states, it remains illegal under federal law, so there has been relatively little research into its potential medical benefits for humans or animals.

Veterinarians in California and other states are legally barred from prescribing or recommending cannabis. They risk losing their veterinary licenses if they do.

“Our hands really are tied,” said Ken Pawlowski, president of the California Veterinary Medical Association. “Definitely we’re getting more questions from clients asking about it for their pets, but unfortunately we don’t have any answers for them.”

Marijuana pet products is a growing industry.

Just this week, Endexx Corporation announced that it had completed its acquisition of Phyto-Labs LLC.
Phyto-Labs is the producer of CBD pet products, among other related products. Known as Phyto-Bites, the company’s dog treats are infused with CBD and “formulated to promote health and support the reduction of separation anxiety, pain and inflammation.”

CBD treats are the latest trend in the animal supplement market, a $500 million industry that’s expected to grow by more than $150 million by the end of the decade.

Share your thoughts with us.

Do you have pets? What kind of situation, if any, would you consider giving pot to your pet?

Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pot-for-pets-liquid-cannabis/
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170308/pot-for-pets-owners-giving-cannabis-to-animals
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/life/pets/2017/03/08/pot-pets-owners-treat-sick-animals-cannabis/98898116/