COVID-19 has continued spreading over the world from the past few months. Researchers from every corner of the globe have been looking into several options that may provide a possible treatment for the people who are contaminated, including the drugs that already exist.
Well, among those already existing drugs, medicinal cannabis is one option that is gaining a lot of attention from medical researchers.
But before the researches show us some promises, we shall say that it is too early for cannabis to be considered as an effective treatment for the people infected by the coronavirus.
Now, when the researchers around the globe have been exploring the facts and effects of cannabis on COVID-19 treatment, it’s yet too early for us to decide whether the result is going to be definitive or not.
So, in this article, we will discuss how might cannabis be an effective treatment for the patients contaminated by this virus? Besides that, what are the chances for its success or failure?
Current Research on the Usage of CBD as a COVID-19 Treatment
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In the USA, there is no detailed study focusing on CBD compounds as a probable treatment for the COVID-19 pandemic and also as the prevention against it.
That is possibly due to the continued restrictions on CBD around many regions. Whatsoever, the researchers from the University of Miami have recently launched a study regarding the survey they made on cannabis users from the United States, how the usage of CBD is impacting them during the peak of the worldwide outbreak of novel coronavirus.
During a question and answer session, a trained epidemiologist, named Denise C. Vidot, who is also an assistant professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies,said, “The world-wide qualifying conditions for clinical cannabis, however not uniform, all incorporate individuals with compromised invulnerable systems and other ceaseless wellbeing conditions.
Just before a few days, a research program was arranged by three organizations in Alberta, Canada (Swysh Inc,Pathway RX, and The University of Lethbridge).
The researchers found that there are certain Cannabis sativa extracts, which can be useful in treatments of ailments caused by the infectious effects of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes the COVID-19 disease.
To be more specific, the researchers found out the fact that the chemical compounds in the extracts can effect instantly on the expression of TMPRSS2 and ACE2.
Now, what are these TMPRSS2 and ACE2? Some recent researches have revealed that these two are proteins in human cells which are specifically the entry points for the virus we’ve been discussing. But as of now, their research papers have recently been submitted, and they are yet to be reviewed.
Let’s dig out what the researchers had to say during their earlier research sessions.
They stated, “While our best extracts require further large scale approval, our assessment is significant for the future examination of the effects of clinical cannabis on COVID-19”.
In the pre-publication of their study, they also said, “The extracts of our best and novel high CBD, C. Sativa lines, going through the further assessment, may transform into a significant and safe extension to the treatment of COVID-19 as an aide treatment”.
The extracts of CBD can probably be used in making a throat gurgle solution or a mouthwash to prevent the infection caused by the novel coronavirus.
There is another research program going on in Canada, which is being driven by Tetra Bio-Pharma. Well, Tetra Bio-Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company based in Canada, which is actively engaged in cannabinoid-inferred drug invention and development of the medicinal products made from cannabis.
The company mentioned through an email that they are hoping to secure funding so that they can take their COVID-19 program to further advancement in the United States and Canada.
They made it explicit by adding that they will look at the active molecules that are present in their manufactured cannabinoid tranquilize PPP003.
They highly hope that the molecules have abilities to reduce the immune system over-activity and inflammation that may lead a patient towards sepsis; and thus the molecules will provide the treatment with much better clinical outcomes.
There was another similar research that was held in Israel. An Israeli pharmaceutical company, named InnoCan Pharma Ltd., focused on the subject. On April 17, they declared an association with Tel Aviv University and they are developing a potential cell treatment together, utilizing CBD-stacked exosomes to treat the patients contaminated with COVID-19.
The product will soon be tested and if it succeeds, it will be given to the patients through inhalation. Moreover, the product will be tested for treating other lung infections too.
Previous Research on CBD Compounds for Corona Virus Treatment
Previously, the cannabis compounds have been investigated to find out prevention against the coronavirus infected diseases, and also a better treatment strategy. During those earlier researches, the effect of the drug on SARS-CoV had been investigated.
SARS-CoV is a coronavirus, which led a few regions to an outbreak of an infection in 2003, which used to cause Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to the infected people.
A research program took place in the year 2007 in China; during this analytical research, the antiviral properties in the cannabis compounds were examined by the researchers and they found out strong anti-SARS-CoV effects in the compounds.
They got 221 phytocompounds lined up, setting up the way that “specific lignoids and abietane-type diterpenoids show up strongly against SARS-CoV impacts”.
Risks that May Arise from Using CBD During the Pandemic
The US National Institute on Drug Abuse said in a recent statement, “The research community ought to be aware of the fact that COVID-19 could hit a few populaces withmaterial useissue especially hard”.
They additionally included, “Considering the way that it influences the lungs, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be an especially genuine peril to the people who vape or who smoke tobacco or weed”.
All they mean is that the cannabis users who think increasing their CBD intake would prevent or treat COVID-19 and save them from the virus, should consider their earlier results with a large grain of salt. To be more particular, smoking or inhaling more marijuana is similar to put your health and especially your lungs at a significant risk of infection.
And for the people who have been wondering whether CBD oils or edibles made from marijuana are safer solutions or not, the researches that have taken place till today is not enough yet to prove the effectiveness of these products against COVID-19.
Final Thoughts
So far, no vaccine or approved treatment for COVID-19 has been formulated.
The above article was just a summary of a few of the researches that are going on in several medicinal laboratories to fight the current pandemic, regarding the fact that whether the CBD compounds have elements to fight the virus or not. Furthermore, the article isn’t a support of its utilization.
Now, this pandemic situation is frequently changing, most of the time into worse. So make sure you consult your local health care providers or the health care authoritiesif you want to use cannabis as a treatment option during the current pandemic.
Only they can provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding the PROs and CONs of its usage against COVID-19.
