Research is underway to explore Cannabis sativa L. as a potential source for new antimicrobial agents, particularly in light of increasing microbial resistance to traditional treatments.

These findings are in line with the World Health Organization's priorities and contribute to global health initiatives aimed at tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Cannabinoids, especially CBD, have demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against a variety of pathogens, including MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida species, SARS-CoV-2, and HIV.

Additionally, CBD has shown efficacy against parasitic infections like Echinococcus granulosus and Leishmania species, indicating that cannabinoids may represent a new class of antimicrobial agents.

Research suggests that cannabinoids can disrupt bacterial membranes and modulate metabolic processes, positioning them as viable alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

The study also found that cannabinoids could enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, demonstrating synergistic effects with bacitracin against resistant strains.

The review supports the incorporation of cannabinoids into innovative dosage forms to improve their therapeutic applications against infections.

Conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review analyzed 102 papers and five clinical trials from 2014 to June 2024 regarding the antimicrobial properties of C. sativa extracts and cannabinoids.

Despite promising findings, the review emphasizes an urgent need for further research and standardized clinical trials to validate these results and develop cannabinoid-based treatments.

The global health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance is underscored by the fact that antibiotic-resistant bacteria were linked to approximately 1.27 million deaths in 2019.

The World Health Organization has identified multidrug-resistant pathogens as a major public health concern, projecting that antimicrobial resistance could lead to up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

The antimicrobial activity of C. sativa extracts varies depending on extraction methods and solvents, with ethanol being the most commonly utilized solvent.