There is no evidence that CBD can stave off or treat COVID-19 — and for people who take certain medications, it may even cause harm.
“That’s a risky roll of the dice,” says one longtime cannabis researcher about taking CBD as protection from COVID-19.
Perhaps it wasn’t surprising that ads touting cannabidiol would spring up during the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, the cannabis derivative has been touted in recent years for its antiviral properties.
But this doesn’t mean it’s effective against the novel coronavirus. And for people who take certain medications, it may not be safe.
A Look at the Evidence (0r Lack Thereof)
CBD might one day prove to be helpful for people who have or who are recovering from a viral illness, but the current data don’t support its use with the coronavirus, says Jahan Marcu, PhD, a longtime cannabis researcher in New York City and editor in chief of the American Journal of Endocannibinoid Medicine.
“If you’re using CBD as a shield to protect yourself against the coronavirus, that’s a risky roll of the dice right now,” he says.
What Exactly Is CBD?
Cannabis plants, which include both marijuana and hemp varieties, contain hundreds of different compounds. The most famous is tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, which is the chemical that makes you high. Another is CBD, which does not create a high.
Hemp plants contain negligible amounts of THC, a key reason why companies have been able to sell a broad array of hemp products. it has been especially popular in recent years, with an explosion of offerings featuring the substance in everything from pills and tinctures to coffees and skin cream.
Many CBD products are sold online, with a growing number also available from dispensaries in states that have legalized medical or recreational cannabis.
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There’s Very Little Human Research
Despite CBD’s widespread availability, hardly any research has been conducted in human subjects. This is because laws governing the legality of cannabis make these investigations difficult.
The most widely researched use for CBD is for epilepsy, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving the first CBD-based drug, Epidiolex, in 2018 to treat rare forms of the disease. The drug’s manufacturer, GW Research, tested it in hundreds of patients before getting approval.
For most other uses, much of the research has involved laboratory animals and test tubes. It is here that CBD has shown promising antiviral properties, as well as antibacterial and other effects, Dr. Marcu says.
CBD may also relieve anxiety and help you sleep, according to a tiny study of 15 people published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology back in 1981. Researchers found that patients with insomnia taking 160 milligrams of CBD before bed (but not lower doses) slept longer than those taking a placebo.
But as the IACM notes, no human studies have been published regarding CBD’s effects on the coronavirus.
CBD Is Not Side-Effect Free
Marketers touting CBD often point to a 2017 statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that says in its pure state, “cannabidiol does not appear to have abuse potential or cause harm.”
But they rarely mention the rest of the WHO statement — that the organization “does not recommend cannabidiol for medical use.”
The chemical is not side-effect free, with people taking CBD reporting problems including diarrhea, fatigue, and vomiting, according to a 2019 review in Current Neuropharmacology.
Credits: www.everydayhealth.com
Author: Meryl Davids Landau
Medically Reviewed by Justin Laube, MD