Canadian study suggests that certain strains of marijuana can fight COVID-19
Cannabis. Is there anything it can’t do?
A new study appeared this week called “In Search of Preventative Strategies: Novel Anti-Inflammatory High-CBD Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in COVID-19 Gateway Tissues.”
Let me translate.
The Canadian research out of the University of Lethbridge (which is still to be peer-reviewed) suggests that certain strains of cannabis that are high in CBD could be beneficial when it comes to the body battling COVID-19.
Researchers looked at 400 strains of marijuana, all which have been approved by Health Canada. They found that 13 of them–sativa strains with loads of CBD–might help the body fight the virus.
These strains contain something that slows down a protein receptor called ACE2, the target of the coronavirus when it breaks into cells in the nose, mouth, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and testes. Early results indicate that these strains could slow down this virus receptor activity by as much as 73%.
Put another way, this weed interacts with the same protein receptors on cells that the coronavirus would use to invade the cell and turn it into a virus-replicating factory. It’s not a vaccine, but it could help as a prophylactic treatment and a treatment for those already sick with the virus.
I quote from the study:
Based on our preliminary data, extracts of novel efficacious C. sativa lines, pending further investigations, may become a useful addition to the treatment of COVID-19, and an excellent GRAS [General Rehabilitation Adherence Scale] adjunct therapy. They may also be used to develop additional easy-to-use preventative strategies such as mouth wash and throat gargle products that may be tested for their potential to decrease viral entry via the oral cavity and may be used both in clinical practice and at-home treatment.”
Note that this has NOT been trialed on humans yet, but that’s coming next. And you know that they’ll have no trouble finding volunteers.