Cannabis and COVID-19: New Study Reveals Potential Benefits

LOS ANGELES- In the wake of the global pandemic, a novel study has shed light on the potential advantages of cannabis for those who contracted COVID-19. Published in the reputable CHEST Journal, the study suggests that cannabis consumers diagnosed with the virus experienced notably improved outcomes and a reduced mortality rate compared to those who did not consume the plant.

Data for this groundbreaking research was sourced from the National Inpatient Sample, the most expansive public collection of inpatient healthcare data, accounting for around seven million hospital visits annually. Out of the 322,214 patients surveyed, only 2,603 identified as cannabis consumers.

The researchers, who unveiled their findings at a recent meeting for the American College of Chest Physicians in Honolulu, Hawaii, meticulously matched each cannabis consumer with a non-consumer based on criteria like age, race, gender, and 17 other comorbidities. These included chronic lung disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, which were more prevalent among non-consumers.

Upon analysis, researchers unveiled that cannabis users displayed a reduced rate of specific medical conditions linked to COVID-19. For instance, rates of intubation were lower (6.8% vs 12%), as were cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (2.1% vs 6%), acute respiratory failure (25% vs 52.9%), severe sepsis with multiorgan failure (5.8% vs 12%), in-hospital cardiac arrest (1.2% vs 2.7%), and mortality (2.9% vs 13.5%).

One potential explanation for these findings, as suggested by the study, is cannabis’s potential ability to obstruct the virus from entering cells and its capability to suppress the release of proinflammatory cytokines, possibly mitigating the severity of the cytokine release syndrome.

However, the study’s authors emphasize that further comprehensive research is paramount. “The pronounced decline in mortality and complications emphasizes the need for additional exploration of the correlation between cannabis use and COVID-19,” they noted.

Regulatory restrictions on cannabis, given its Schedule I status, hampered early research efforts into the plant’s potential benefits for COVID-19 patients. Advocates like Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, Medical Director of the Dent Neurological Institute in Buffalo, New York, have called for its reclassification to foster research.

Other studies, both before and after this one, have hinted at the potential therapeutic properties of cannabis in relation to COVID-19. An August 2022 study, for instance, observed reduced severity in COVID-19 symptoms among cannabis users. Yet another research, in May, posited that cannabinoids could decrease the production of two proteins used by the coronavirus to infect human cells.

As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic and seeks innovative solutions to health challenges, this study represents a step toward understanding the multifaceted benefits of cannabis. However, experts advise caution, underscoring the need for further research to conclusively determine the extent of these benefits.