Cannabis against Corona: Can smoking weed protect against infection?

Is hemp the new miracle cure against Corona? The plant owes its medicinal effects in particular to the ingredients cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD is said to help with insomnia and relieve anxiety, while THC is best known for inducing an intoxicating state. According to a laboratory study, parts of the cannabis should prevent a corona infection.

In addition to hemp , researchers at Oregon State University examined   other plants such as hops,  red clover  and liquorice. The result: ingredients of the hemp plant can possibly prevent infection with the corona virus.

Smoking weed against COVID-19: This is how hemp works against SARS-CoV-2

The focus of the study was once again the spike protein of the coronavirus. The protein is responsible for docking  SARS-CoV-2  to human cells. The researchers determined which plant compounds could stop this process.

The result: In initial laboratory tests, the hemp acids cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) were able to bind the spike protein and thus prevent the coronavirus from entering human cells.

The effect of CBGA and CBDA has so far been proven against the alpha and beta virus variants. It has not yet been proven whether the compounds could also be effective against the infectious omicron variant.

CBGA and CBDA can be taken orally as a pill, are not intoxicating or psychoactive, and do not need to be smoked.

Cannabinoids as the basis of possible corona drugs

Whether the cannabinoids can be used as corona drugs against severe courses must be determined in further studies.

However, the research team led by Richard van Breemen emphasized that cannabinoids could by no means replace a corona vaccination, but they could possibly offer additional protection against infection with the corona virus.