The 25 Best Inventions of 2016
7. Cannabis That Could Replace Pills
Millions of Americans rely on over-the-counter medicine to treat routine complications such as insomnia and headaches. What if they took hits of pot instead? That’s what California-based Hmbldt is banking on with its new line of vaporizer pens.
When inhaled, the pens dispense a dose of cannabis oil that Hmbldt says has been chemically engineered to make people feel a certain way—calm, sleepy, relieved of pain—without getting high. Cannabis-delivery methods like this one haven’t yet been thoroughly vetted by physicians. But as more states legalize medical marijuana, and more studies show that it does have merits, products like Hmbldt’s (now available only in California) could become increasingly commonplace. “This really can help people feel better,” says Jason DeLand, the company’s head of strategy.