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Can Cannabis Compound Prevent COVID-19 Infection?
The year 2020 and 2021 had been a trying time for all. COVID-19 infection has not only been deadly and dangerous but it had put a stop to everything. And, the fact that 2022 is also shaping up to be the victim of the omicron variant, we all are looking for some kind of relief. For all the cannabis lovers out there, we have a good news for you.
Recently, a new study has claimed that the cannabis compound is capable of preventing COVID-19 from attacking and infecting human cells. It’s a great time to be alive, ain't it?
The US researchers at the Oregon State University has suggested in their study that components of cannabis compound can prevent coronavirus infection. This news has made quite a stir on various social media platforms. To strengthen this claim, a laboratory study has also published the same in their Journal of Nature Products.
How Cannabis Compound Prevent COVID-19?
The expert team has found out that the identified hemp, scientifically known as Cannabis Sativa is the vital compound. The researcher at the varsity, Richard van Breemen said that “Hemp is a source of fibre, food and animal feed. Multiple hemp extracts and compounds are added to cosmetics, body lotions, dietary supplements, and nutrition”.
The two compounds in the hemp, namely cannabigerol acid or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, CBDA has the capability of combating coronavirus. It was found that they get bound to the spike protein found on the virus and block a step that the pathogen uses to attack and infect people.
Can You Smoke COVID-19 Away?
Recently in his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jimmy joked that “All this time we’ve been listening to the CDC, we should have been eating CBD”. So does it mean that we can smoke the coronavirus infection away? Actually, it's more complicated than that.
Dr. Michael Beazely, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada has stated that “the first thing to note before everyone goes out tries to prevent COVID-19 infection via pot smoking is that these are in vitro experiment”.
In layman’s terms, this means that the test has been done not on humans but on human kidney cells. On top of that, it was also noticed that the above-mentioned hemp compounds cannot be gained from smoking weed. Dr. Beazely also suggested that by smoking pot, you would inhale CBD, not CBDA.
Further Research
The researchers have found out that there is a potential of the therapeutic value of the cannabis compound. The concentration of the compounds that are needed to block the virus is clinically achievable. But all this can be done after further research and studies.
Dr. Lisa Holle, a clinical professor at the University of Connecticut, has advised that the potential therapies need to be studied in the lab under different settings. Breemen, on the other hand, has suggested that the compounds if taken orally have the potential to fight against SARS-CoV-2.
As suggested by the experts, there is a need for further research and detailed study. There is a strong possibility that this can lead to legalisation of cannabis. But until then lookout for this space for more updates.
Keep toking with Olivastu!