The Cannabis-COVID Link: What We Know and What We Don’t Know

By Andrew Ward

As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, much remains uncertain about the virus, including its interactions with cannabis.

In the early months of the pandemic, various studies linked cannabis with both adverse and beneficial outcomes. The trend continues today, with little conclusively known about the medical connection cannabis-COVID, if indeed there is one.

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However, it is much clearer to see that the pandemic had a significant positive impact on the market.

Almost all conclusions require additional data

Several doctors and researchers tell Benzinga that little conclusions have been drawn about cannabis-COVID connections, whether beneficial or disadvantageous.

Dr. Samoon Ahmad is a professor of psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he serves as the department head of the inpatient department at Bellevue Hospital. He said that “unfortunately not much” is certain at this point.

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Dr. Robert Milanes, a California-based cannabis doctor with telemedicine platform Heally, said, “We know conclusively that cannabis cannot cure COVID-19.”

Despite his claims, cannabis entrepreneurs like retired NFL player Kyle Turley have claimed that CBD could cure COVID-19. In late March 2020, the FDA warned Turley of such claims.

Milanes pointed out that cannabis use increased during the pandemic. He noted that Margriet W. van Laar et al. Study in which 41.3% of respondents said their cannabis use increased during lockdown.

In addition, no one currently considered any findings to be verifiable.

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Ahmad, the author of a medical cannabis clinical manual and a briefly published book by Wolters Kluwer that looks at the psychosocial effects of the pandemic, noted that several interesting studies have been published in the past few months.

He cited additional studies with various negative and useful conclusions. They may include increased rates of side effects in elderly patients using the synthetic drugs nabilone and dronabinol to treat severe breathing problems. Ahmad countered the results, stating, “This is indirect evidence and poor at best.”

He also cited studies linking heavy cigarette smoking to worsened COVID symptoms, hypothesizing that heavy cannabis smoke could have the same effect. He warned that vaping risks were even more meager.

“I would play it safe and recommend using tinctures or edibles if they decide to use cannabis, especially if they have comorbidities associated with poorer COVID-19 outcomes,” added Ahmad.

Milanes also discussed various studies and their results

The doctor cited a study that concluded that cannabis users could be more susceptible to infection and worsening conditions due to COVID. He noted that additional analysis found that people predisposed to a cannabis use disorder saw an increased likelihood of hospitalization for the virus, while other studies concluded that CBD could play an essential role in reducing the severity of a cytokine storm. This is when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive, so to speak, signaling an influx of cytokines to fight a pathogen.

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Milanes described the event as “the most dangerous and potentially life-threatening event related to COVID-19”.

Ahmad added, “Preclinical evidence suggests that THC and CBD can reduce the severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but clinical evidence is still lacking.”

Good for your health, probably not. Good for business? Yes. Sales boom during the pandemic

While little to no medical research links cannabis use to COVID-19 relief, it is definitely not the case in companies where the pandemic has proven to be a boon to emerging industries.

Jessica Lipton, a cannabis researcher and founder of the Elevate Delta 8 rubber goods brand, said the essential status bestowed on much of the industry has resulted in significant expansion.

RELATED: Why Is Cannabis Not Prescribed For COVID Survivors?

“Businesses boomed and were encouraged to maximize cash flow, develop contingency plans and hire more people,” said Lipton. She expects the trend to continue, especially for brands that sell both THC and CBD products.

Delivery services also increased or were introduced in most markets to comply with social distancing rules.

“While the relaxation of these guidelines is temporary, the success we’ve seen may encourage future legislative adjustments,” added Lipton.

An August 2021 report found that sales increased in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington between 2019 and 2020 during COVID-19.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.