Cannabis as a Treatment for COVID-19

Researchers at Oregon State University continue exploring whether cannabis is an effective treatment for COVID-19.

This is the same group that released a study finding cannabinoids could prevent infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Richard van Breemen, an Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center researcher, said that natural products like cannabis aren’t major research priorities for large pharmaceutical companies or federal drug research.

Van Breeman and his team are sharing their findings at Oregon State’s Science Pub event. Their presentation, titled “Natural products and hemp: Under-appreciated sources for COVID-19 therapeutic agents,” will be available to view online.

Cannabis and COVID-19

Earlier this year, van Breemen and his team published research showing how plant cannabinoids found in cannabis can prevent SARS-Cov-2 from entering human cells and causing COVID-19.

Cannabinoid acids bind to the SARS spike protein, blocking the virus from carrying out its infection. The findings were published in the Journal of Natural Products to little fanfare.

Van Breemen said the two cannabinoid acids that bind to the spike protein are CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) and CBDA (cannabidiolic acid). These cannabinoid acids are present in the raw cannabis plant. 

If you’ve ever made edibles or oil, you know you must “decarb” the cannabis first. This process turns THCA into THC, so you’re edibles are more potent.

In van Breemen’s research, it’s the acidic form of the cannabinoid that helps prevent COVID-19.

“These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts,” van Breemen said in a statement. “And our research showed the hemp compounds were equally effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2, including variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, and variant B.1.351, first detected in South Africa.”

Does Anybody Still Care about COVID-19?

If you live in the United States, life has gone back to normal, depending on where you are. In other places, like Canada, authorities ask the public to wear masks again.

So far, they’re only asking.

In China, the population is revolting against continuous lockdowns and house arrests. Ironic that Western leaders are cheering the protestors on while violating the rights of protesters under their own regime.

But if you ever had any doubt that COVID measures were about control instead of health, look no further than this study.

Richard van Breemen and his team weren’t the only researchers to make this discovery. At least two other studies are coming to the same conclusion.

Yet, how often do we hear about cannabinoid therapy from the corporate press? How many public health busybodies influence governors and premiers about getting the public on a daily CBD regimen? Instead, they speculate that cannabis causes psychosis or heart disease.

Justin Trudeau calls unvaxxed Canadians misogynists and racists. But, his federal cannabis regulations keep CBD artificially scarce and its price unnecessarily high. 

“We are all in this together and we are there for you,” Trudeau said on March 18, 2020.

Well, it’s time to step up. If he can declare an emergency to clear out a bunch of peaceful protestors from Ottawa’s streets, he can do the same here.

With the NDP giving him an effective majority, there’s nothing to stop Trudeau from ramming through new CBD legislation. Or he can do it like his gun grab and use an Order-in-Council. 

CBD for COVID: It’s Easier Than You Think

Getting CBD into the hands of every Canadian is essential if:

a) We’re still in a pandemic and;

b) We must do everything we can to keep from overwhelming our health care system. Except for real solutions, like legalizing private options.

Mask mandates and vaccines have been ineffective at stopping the spread. If public health wants to live up to its name, then it’s time to heed what the researchers wrote in the abstract of their study.

“Orally bioavailable and with a long history of safe human use, these cannabinoids, isolated or in hemp extracts, have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2.”

Canada’s cannabis growers are destroying millions of grams every year. There is simply no excuse. Cannabis treatment for COVID-19 is a must now!