Can Cannabis Be An Effective Treatment for COVID-19?

I know weed can’t fix all the world’s problems, but every time I doubt it’s powerful therapeutic abilities, it proves me wrong time and time again. 

The most dangerous symptom of Covid-19 is an overactive inflammatory response to the body, referred to as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or “cytokine storm” [2]. Cytokines are small proteins that are essential for cell signaling; usually, they help create inflammation to fight off infections; however, in severe cases of Covid-19, so many cytokines are being released into the immune system that it is creating a cytokine storm [4]. Cytokine storms contribute to symptoms of fever, cough, and muscle pain [1]. It can also lead to excessive inflammation, swelling, pain, and loss of organ function. Excessive inflammation can lead to severe pneumonia, which clogs the lungs and makes breathing difficult [1]. In some cases, it can even cause the immune system to ramp up so much that it begins killing the body’s cells instead of fighting off the infection [3]. Currently, there is no definitive cure to ARDS [2].

Researchers and scientists that are studying treatments for Covid-19 are explicitly paying attention to how they can treat inflammation to reduce IL-6 cytokine activity [1]. 

Several cannabinoids in the cannabis plant have anti-inflammatory properties, so scientists have begun studying the plant as a treatment option for Covid-19 since the main issue is inflammation.

Through previous studies, CBD has shown beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in various chronic inflammatory diseases [5]. In an animal study on chronic asthma, CBD was shown to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which resulted in reducing airway inflammation [5]. Studies demonstrate that CBD is an IL-6 inhibitor and can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [4]. It has also shown the ability to increase the production of interferons, a type of signaling protein that activates immune cells and prevents viruses from replicating [1]. Previous research demonstrates that CBD has the therapeutic ability to decrease lung inflammation without any adverse side effects, unlike pharmaceutical medications.

Evidence also shows THC being a powerful anti-inflammatory; however, it’s less tolerated than CBD due to its psychoactive effect [1].

An ongoing Israeli study conducted by two Israeli research and development companies, Eybna and CannaSoul Analytics, has found that CBD with terpenes is 2 times more effective at treating Covid-19 than the current recommended treatment [3]. Terpenes are the molecules responsible for the scent and taste of distinct cannabis strains and many other plants and play a role in the overall therapeutic effects of cannabis.

To test their theory that CBD and terpenes would be an effective treatment for ARDS, researchers used a “Cytokine Storm Assay” from Cannasoul, which uses human blood cells to evaluate Cytokine Storm Syndrome and the effects of different treatments on cytokine secretion [3]. 

The researchers tested four different types of treatments; NT-VRL™ the terpene formulation, CBD, CBD with NT-VRL™, and Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid often used to bring down inflammation [3]. The results shocked them, CBD alone inhibited around 75% of the cytokines, NT-VRL™ alone inhibited around 80%, the combination of CBD and the NT-VRL™ was able to inhibit about 90% of the tested cytokines and Dexamethasone was only able to inhibit around 30% of the cytokines [3].

CBD could be the next best thing for medicine by playing an immunotherapeutic role in treating severe respiratory viral infections such as Covid-19. If we want to better our health as a country, it’s time to reschedule cannabis, and the federal government drops its categorization as a Schedule 1 drug with no medicinal benefits.

It’s time for a change my friends, and I believe cannabis can be a guide to that change.