For years, Olga and Igor Kovalchuck have been developing and testing a novel cannabis strain to see if they could create a strain that that would combat cancer and inflammation.

Then that whole pandemic thing hit and they shifted their focus on how cannabis could fight COVID-19. They’ve made some interesting findings.

But don’t pull out the bong/doobie/vaporizer just yet.

Cannabis Could Fight COVID-19… Sorta

In their studies, Olga and Igor found that THC may just help to treat some potentially lethal complications of COVID-19. It all comes down to how it works with the immune system.

The study, which was performed on mice, found that THC could prevent the harmful immune response in the body that kicks on when trying to fight COVID-19. This response is known as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and it can be fatal.

At the very least, it can leave lasting pulmonary scarring.

With ARDS, the body’s immune system goes into massive overdrive. In its efforts to kill the disease, it also begins to destroy the lungs and other organs. The researchers saw enough evidence in the mice that THC could lessen this that they’re now recommending health professionals start human trials of the treatment.

This new information has brought a lot of traffic to local dispensaries such as the Greenhouse in Walled Lake. People want to know how cannabis can help them. While owner Jerry Millen and his staff are quick to share that they are not doctors, they do have plenty of anecdotal information to pass.

Here is the caveat though:

This in NO WAY means that anyone who currently has an active COVID infection should institute recreational use of cannabis to self-medicate. THC can actually suppress the immune response. Thus, using it in the early phases of an infection could hinder the body’s response to COVID-19 and render the infection worse rather than better.

Cannabis and Cytokine Storm Syndrome

Igor and Olga weren’t the first to suggest how cannabis could be beneficial in the fight against COVID complications though.

If you haven’t yet heard of cytokine storm syndrome, it’s the inflammatory response to the COVID-19 virus where white blood cells are activated and release inflammatory cytokines. This, in turn, activates more white blood cells.

The syndrome causes symptoms like fatigue, fever, and vomiting. But if the syndrome continues to advance, breathing becomes difficult and then impossible without a ventilator. Not having access to a ventilator is certain death.

Dexamethasone, a common corticosteroid, has been used to treat inflammation for COVID patients. But a study done in August in Israel showed that a specific terpene formulation combined with CBD is twice as effective as the dexamethasone in treating cytokine storm syndrome.

Blocking the Virus

Finally, way back in June, two Canadian researchers found a specific strain of cannabis could be helpful in the fight due to its ability to block the virus from entering the body through ACE2 receptors.

There’s a lengthy and scientifically-worded explanation in the study that explains how it does this. But since we’re cannabis marketing experts and not scientists, suffice it to say that modulating the ACE2 levels in the tissues most susceptible to the disease could be a solid strategy for decreasing that susceptibility.

Whatever the case, it’s important to remember that cannabis is still federally prohibited and has therefore not been approved as a prevention or treatment for COVID-19.

We’re just stating the facts.

Are You Looking to Boost Your Cannabis Marketing Efforts?

While we can’t send potential clients your way based on the mere claim that cannabis could fight COVID-19, we can help leverage your marketing and public relations efforts to get you noticed.

Contact us today to see how we can put our skills and expertise to work for you.

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We’re not advising you rush out and start consuming cannabis any more than we’d suggest ingesting disinfectants (ahem).

But Israeli researchers have been busy these days conducting clinical trials looking at cannabis as a potential COVID-19 treatment.

More specifically, they’re studying how CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties could play an effective role in stopping or slowing the virus.

Clinical Trials in Israel

Enter InnoCan Pharma.

InnoCan Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company which operates in Israel and Canada. The objective of InnoCan is to harness the power of cannabinoids to target a range of health problems.

Numerous studies have shown CBD can help regulate the body’s immune system and reduce inflammation. The clinical trials conducted in Israel will study how CBD could work alongside existing treatment options.

Study #1

In a collaboration with Tel Aviv University, the first clinical trial will study the effects of instilling CBD medicine through exosomes. Exosomes are the small cell structures that are generated when stem cells multiply.

Because exosomes are uniquely qualified to target cell organs that have been damaged by COVID-19, researchers believe that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties could synergistically repair those cells.

So how will they do this? Since the virus attacks the respiratory system, patients will receive CBD-enriched exosomes through an inhalation device.

Study #2

A second clinical trial will study ten COVID-19 patients who are currently undergoing treatment in Israel’s Rabin Medical Center.

Since hospitalized COVID-19 patients are primarily treated with steroids, doctors there want to study the effects of combining CBD with those steroid treatments. The belief is that CBD will enhance their therapeutic potential.

If their estimation is correct, it will lead to faster recovery for severely ill patients. And should the study prove successful, there are plans in place to expand the treatment to 40 additional patients.

Study #3

A third study focuses on moderate COVID-19 patients.

Launched by Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center, this study will investigate CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties and its potential to lower the respiratory symptoms experienced by those not quite as hard-hit as the those with severe cases.

Meanwhile, Back in North America

Our enlightened neighbor to the north (that would be Canada) has intentions to study not only what role marijuana can play in slowing COVID-19, but how marijuana’s anti-inflammatory properties could fortify current treatments.

Since marijuana is STILL federally prohibited in the United States though, there simply isn’t the quite the same funding as in Canada. Even so, there is a preliminary study looking at the impact of COVID-19 on medical marijuana patients.

Led by the University of Miami, the study will look at data collected on the patterns and trends of these patients during the coronavirus outbreak. The researchers will use an anonymous survey of medical marijuana patients to obtain information regarding their mental health and physical health. They will also examine any changes in a patient’s frequency of use of cannabis, dosage, and means of consumption.

Their ultimate goal is to have cannabis users from every country complete the survey resulting in more generalized data.

Using Cannabis As a Potential COVID-10 Treatment

There’s no arguing that these are strange and even troubling times. So it makes sense that the scientific community would be looking at cannabis as a potential COVID-19 treatment.

It’s proven to help in so many ways already.

And during these challenging times, know that we’re in your corner. It’s important to keep your cannabis business in the forefront of consumers’ minds. Let us help. Contact us today.

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