COVID-19 and Cannabis Smoking and Vaping
THC from cannabis smoke or in other forms can inhibit the ability of the immune system to
protect the body from foreign pathogens, thus increasing susceptibility to infections. For example,
growing evidence from preclinical studies in rodents and monkeys has shown that THC is able to
suppress the ability of immune system cells and “immune messengers” to modulate an adequate
immune response (Eisenstein & Meissler (2015) against foreign pathogens such as viruses. In
humans, some studies have shown that THC can inhibit the functioning of several types of immune
cells in the lungs (Shay et al., 2003; Tashkin & Roth, 2006), an effect that has been suggested
to alter the immune system defences of lungs and increases susceptibility to infections. There
have not been many studies examining the effects of THC and other cannabinoids on the immune
system in humans (NASEM, 2017) and more studies are needed to confirm the effects of THC on
immune competencies in both healthy and compromised individuals (NASEM, 2017). However,
the large body of preclinical evidence supports the hypothesis that THC has a potential affect on
immune functioning
Cannabidiol Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Promotes the Host Innate Immune Response
Our results suggest that CBD can block SARS-CoV-2 infection at early stages of infection, and CBD administration is associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. Furthermore, the active compound in patients is likely to be 7-OH-CBD, the same metabolite implicated in CBD treatment of epilepsy. The substantial reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection risk of approximately an order of magnitude in patients who took FDA-approved CBD highlights the potential efficacy of this drug in combating SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, the ability of CBD to inhibit replication of MHV raises the possibility that CBD may have efficacy against new pathogenic viruses arising in the future.
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