A new study from the USA has investigated whether cannabis protects against coronavirus infection and comes to a surprising conclusion.
So is cannabis the savior in the fight against corona? That is certainly an exaggeration. But some active ingredients of the cannabis plant have proven effective in pain therapy, for example. And the study by the University of Oregon raises hopes that cannabis could also help in the pandemic.
Cannabis is known to have many positive properties that can help with mental and physical ailments. Researchers have identified two active substances in the cannabis plant as effective against corona infection. The molecules cannabigerol and CBDa bind to the spike proteins of the coronavirus. This makes it more difficult for the pathogens to penetrate human cells.
The study was published in the scientific journal "Eurekalert". However, study leader Richard van Breemen points out that although cannabigerol and CBDa can be found in the hemp plant and in many hemp extracts, efficient extraction is complicated. In any case, smoking the flowers is not the most efficient way to release these substances and is not recommended during an acute illness.
Cannabidiol extraction and dissolution in a carrier oil appears to be the more promising method here. The study is based on findings with the alpha and beta variants of the coronavirus. The researchers "hope that the results will also be confirmed against other variants such as Omikron".
Cannabis extracts could also play a role in treating the long-term effects of coronavirus. It is estimated that well over 1 million people in Europe suffer from the long-term effects of having contracted the disease. Others say that one person in 40 who was infected with COVID-19 continues to have symptoms.
The Australian cannabis company Bod Australia has been granted permission to conduct a clinical trial. It is hoped that this will provide evidence that medicinal cannabis products help to alleviate long-term conditions such as poor concentration, chronic pain, anxiety and insomnia.
Until the final results are published, consumers will have to rely on their gut feeling and find out for themselves whether CBD helps them.