There have been several suggestions in the past that cannabis might be capable of treating or even preventing infection from Covid-19. Up to now all of these have been debunked or described as wishful thinking on behalf of cannabis users.
However, a new study by Oregon State’s Blogal Hemp Innovation Center in the College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute has revealed that cannabinoids may well be able to prevent infection from the virus that causes Covid-19.
It is the spike proteins found in SARS-CoV-2 that enable the virus to bind to the human cell surface receptor ACE2. This is a critical step that allows the virus to infect human cells, especially those cells in the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs.
By binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, CBDA and CBGA cannabinoids can effectively prevent the virus from penetrating cells. This is in effect the same purpose of the current vaccines which aim to do the same, causing the virus to fail to enter human cells and cause infection. Or where cells are already infected, by stopping further infection by rendering the virus unable to infect more cells.
Don’t think that smoking or vaping cannabis is going to protect you. It won’t. CBDA and CBGA cannabinoids are raw materials derived from CBGa along with Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCa). The studies originated from hemp, Cannabis Sativa, CBDA is a non-psychoactive from which the compound to CBD is produced. In effect, CBDA is decarboxylated to create CBD. You can read more about decarboxylation here. This happens instantly when the flower is smoked or vaped and will also happen slowly over a period of time.
As a result, if further studies confirm the current hypothesis, these compounds would have to be taken orally. They already have a long history of safe use for humans said Richard Van Breeman, one of the leading researchers.
Research so far has been limited to the Alpha and Beta strains of Covid-19 but researchers are hopeful that the trend will extend to other existing and any future variants.
As mentioned this research has been possible because hemp is now grown legally and is readily available to laboratories and institutes to undertake studies. Marijuana, still illegal at the federal level, is much more complicated to obtain or study for its pharmaceutical properties. Marijuana is known to have over 400 compounds many of which, if studied in-depth, could have medical benefits well beyond those already discovered and being used in states where medical marijuana has been legalized.
It really is time for the House and Senate to stop prevaricating and legalize marijuana to remove the stigma and open the door to full-blown research into the properties and benefits marijuana can offer.
One thing for sure. We doubt there would have been the level of resistance to CBDA and CBGA cannabinoids as there has been to vaccinations!
