Research Finds Compounds in Cannabis Can Potentially Prevent and Treat COVID-19

A new study explores the potential benefits of cannabis in the fight against COVID-19, according to a report in Marijuana Moment.

The research was carried out by a team at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada and was published last month in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

After reviewing available scientific literature, the researchers determined that compounds in cannabis, known as cannabinoids, have the potential to prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  In addition, they found that cannabinoids can lessen the severity of the disease once it has occurred, saying the compounds “have been shown to prevent viral entry, mitigate oxidative stress, and alleviate the associated cytokine storm” of early COVID-19 infections.

In addition, the study concluded that cannabinoids could potentially be helpful in treating Long COVID, the long-term signs, symptoms and conditions that can persist after an acute COVID-19 infection. The cannabis was found to have shown promise in treating some of these symptoms, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress injury, insomnia, pain, and decreased appetite.

“Cannabis and cannabinoid-based drugs have shown promise in preventing viral entry, acting as an anti-inflammatory agent, and improving many symptoms associated with post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infections,” the researchers said.  They added that more clinical trials and studies are needed to further establish the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in response to COVID-19.

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