Cannabinoids block Covid in vitro Quebec bans cannabis from unvaxxed patrons

It was earlier in 2020 when Lethbridge released a preprint study showing evidence that cannabis can help with Covid. Now, an in vitro study in 2022 discovered certain cannabinoids that might block Covid spike proteins. Whereas research in 2021 indicated lockdowns diminish our endocannabinoid systems. And yet, Quebec‘s new plan bans patrons not vaccinated against the virus from buying cannabis in 2022.

Lethbridge’s research was highly shared, reiterated in a Calgary Herald report. Months later, the study was published with a popular peer-review. By that time, many other research projects investigated cannabis and its constituents for their potential to treat Covid-19. Noteworthy is the less discussed flavonoid compounds. And yet, the world was stuck waiting for a vaccine with many under lockdown; their endocannabinoid systems and background health slowly fading. (1-4)

Building on the evidence, the new study published by the Journal of Natural Products looked at that CBDa and CBGa. They concluded that the two acidic cannabinoids block entry of the virus that causes Covid using cells in a test tube. (5) This takes smoking or vaporizing off the chart since acidic cannabinoids are converted by heat.

…clinical trial testing grounds. That is the most reasonable way of saying, Pfizer is using South Africans as Guinea Pigs to develop vaccines for wealthy countries…

No Covid treatments until Pfizer says so

No remedies were acceptable for Covid-19 aside from the drug, remdesivir. At first, this was because viral variants are born when partial Covid treatments and bad vaccines create selective immune pressure. At least, that was the concern voiced by Professors of Virology quoted by Reuters in September 2020. In contrast, we find out scientists and the media simply missed the mark after Pfizer released a vaccine in 2021 before their anti-covid pill. (6)

Virology Professor, Ian Jones of Reading University in Britain spoke about Russia’s sloppy vaccine and the risk for selective pressure one a half years ago in a telephone interview with Reuters. This author sent Profesor Jones an email to clarify, rather than rely on antiquated information. To update, we now know that weaker immunity is simply still beneficial, albeit no amount of immunity alone can evade Sars-Cov2. Essentially, our current focus is to reduce symptoms and drop the case-fatality rate to a manageable range rather than eliminate the virus.

Mutations occur all the time but evolution occurs when selection acts on those mutations and allows a “fitter” variant to dominate. One of those selection pressures is immunity.

As far as I know all the variants so far have shown a lesser ability to be neutralised (although they do not dodge it entirely) and it is likely that has figured in their rise. So for infectious agents immunity is certainly a factor in their evolution. However, what has become evident is that infection can occur anyway for CoV, whatever the level of immunity induced by whatever vaccine, so the concern I and others expressed 18 months ago has been superseded by events.
Professor Ian Jones

In that case, it should be noted that Pfizer’s pill is simply more selective, acutely more bioavailable, and especially patentable compared to quercetin, a flavonoid found in cannabis and other foods. Remember of course, that Pfizer is restricting access to vaccines in Africa for nefarious reasons according to Professors from Havard and Uganda. Global Health Officers have been stringent and clear that profit fuels Pfizer’s actions; if you squeeze the supply you increase the demand, and that means more money for Big Pharma. (7)

(That’s the polite way of saying their behavior in focusing on selling boosters to rich countries and not expanding production for the rest of the world, and, in the case of Pfizer, claiming Africa can’t handle the vaccines, is egregious beyond words.) 18/
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) September 18, 2021

Sadly, there’s another reason for Pfizer to restrict vaccines to South Africa – it’s their clinical trial testing grounds. That is the most reasonable way of saying, Pfizer is using South Africans as Guinea Pigs to develop vaccines for wealthy countries. And sadly, in the end, the virus will never go away if one continent or province is restricted from accessing proper healthcare. A continuous cycle will therefore flourish until Pfizer runs out of Africans to use in clinical trials. Meanwhile, Quebec plans to ban access to cannabinoid therapy through their cannabis stores without full vaccination to block Covid.

Human rights after Quebec bans unvaxxed from cannabis stores

As cannabis was legalized in 2018 in Canada, the new Cannabis Act was put on trial for violating Charter Section 7, the right to life and liberty. One case was filed by a disable Ontarian known as Ken Harrower. He claimed new cannabis regulations restricted access to medicinal patients due to a lack of brick and mortar stores for their needs. Further actions have been taken against Canada’s cannabis laws for violation Section 7 and won, slightly, in an Alberta Court. (8)

Section 8 further protects a patron from discrimination, being unfairly banned by, or restricted from any store on Canada’s ceded territory or otherwise. So by case law, it appears that cannabis is a medicine and restricting a patient’s access is a Charter Violation without justification. And access by mail delivery simply is not legally adequate for many patients and stores can still serve their customers just outside the door.

That’s the thing with vaccine mandates, though, the Charter is only justifiable if the court agrees. The Provincial and Federal Governments can challenge any citizen’s rights under a quantifiable threat to the community. This is one reason why the incompetent recording of Covid case data should be seen as criminal malfeasance.

In terms of cannabis, Canada has squeezed and suffocated the viability of its medicinal cannabis industry. Data from Deloitte suggests Canada’s medical market will experience a 50% reduction from 2020 to 2026. Quebec, where the unvaccinated will be taxed and restricted access to cannabis from storefronts, already bans anyone from growing at home. Sadly surviving a Supreme Court battle, the homegrown restriction remains in the province.

Full-sprectrum cannabis for Covid

Raphael Mechoulam was involved in a study released during 2021 that analyzed CBD against Covid-19; a poor result with a glass-half-full outcome. An entourage theory was supported by Mechoulam’s study since CBD isolate was an ineffective treatment for Covid-19 compared to data produced by full-profile strains of cannabis. That suggests phytocompounds like terpenes, possibly flavonoids, and/or cannabinoid acids are a major benefit.

Acidic cannabinoids were not involved in Mechoulam’s study, for a start. In 2022, researchers from Oregon, USA found that CBDa and CBGa block Sars-Cov2 spike proteins, the anchor that attaches to certain human receptors. (5) One more benefit CBDa and CBGa has over CBD is the inhibition of COX-2, a problematic inflammatory agent that contributes to the fatal cytokine storm. Further supporting the entourage argument, CLN released a report at the beginning of 2020 highlighting the benefit of terpenes.

As reported 23 months ago now, the mortality of the deadly coronavirus known as MERS was reduced by 50% using a complex blend of terpenes from various sources. Beyond terpenes and cannabinoids lies flavonoids, which block spike proteins and reduces Covid through the same mechanism of action as Pfizer’s new miracle pill. Sadly though, flavonoids have a despicable bioavailability. But a CB2 receptor agonist like caryophyllene provides many other promises deep into the nerves and other cells. Olorinab is a synthetic CB2 receptor agonist Pfizer now owns after a $6.7B deal.

CBDa, CBGa, and CB2 agonists all boost a regulatory messenger (PPARs) far more effectively than CBD alone. And lipid metabolism depends on good PPAR function. Moreover, Covid is a disease that completely disrupts lipid metabolism, partially resulting in the lethal cytokine storm. Conclusively then, should those with weak endocannabinoid tones due to their poor lifestyle habits be treated with more privileges than the vaccinated in Quebec or anywhere else?

To be blunt, have you asked if the Ministers of Quebec and Canada focus on their endocannabinoid tones? And after you kindly email them those thoughts, let us know in the comments what you think of Quebec’s new restriction that bans a set of cannabis consumers.

Sources

Bill Kaufmann. 05, 2020. Cannabis shows promise blocking coronavirus infection: Alberta researcher. Calgary Herald.
Wang, B., Kovalchuk, A., Li, D., Rodriguez-Juarez, R., Ilnytskyy, Y., Kovalchuk, I., & Kovalchuk, O. (2020). In search of preventive strategies: novel high-CBD Cannabis sativa extracts modulate ACE2 expression in COVID-19 gateway tissues. Aging, 12(22), 22425–22444.
Kovalchuk, A., Wang, B., Li, D., Rodriguez-Juarez, R., Ilnytskyy, S., Kovalchuk, I., & Kovalchuk, O. (2021). Fighting the storm: could novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 C. sativa cultivars tame cytokine storm in COVID-19?. Aging, 13(2), 1571–1590.
Brugnatelli, V., Facco, E., & Zanette, G. (2021). Lifestyle Interventions Improving Cannabinoid Tone During COVID-19 Lockdowns May Enhance Compliance With Preventive Regulations and Decrease Psychophysical Health Complications. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 565633.
van Breemen, R. B., Muchiri, R. N., Bates, T. A., Weinstein, J. B., Leier, H. C., Farley, S., & Tafesse, F. G. (2022). Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants. Journal of natural products, 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00946. Advance online publication.
Kate Kelland. 09, 2021. Russia vaccine roll-out plan prompts virus mutation worries. Reuters.
Azfar Hossain, Stephen Asiimwe and Louise Ivers. December, 2021. Claims of vaccine hesitancy in African countries are at odds with the reality on the ground. Stat News.
Crippa, J., Pacheco, J. C., Zuardi, A. W., Guimarães, F. S., Campos, A. C., Osório, F. L., Loureiro, S. R., Dos Santos, R. G., Souza, J., Ushirohira, J. M., Ferreira, R. R., Mancini Costa, K. C., Scomparin, D. S., Scarante, F. F., Pires-Dos-Santos, I., Mechoulam, R., Kapczinski, F., Fonseca, B., Esposito, D., Passos, A., … Hallak, J. (2021). Cannabidiol for COVID-19 Patients with Mild to Moderate Symptoms (CANDIDATE Study): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 10.1089/can.2021.0093. Advance online publication.