Study reveals that cannabis users are more resistant to COVID symptoms

According to a recent study, cannabis users admitted to hospital with COVID were more likely to fight the virus successfully than those who didn't use cannabis.

The study revealed that cannabis users had fewer negative symptoms, including less respiratory illness, fewer deaths and fewer comorbidities. The authors presented their findings at the annual conference of the’American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) held in Honolulu last week.

Scientists have estimated that the potential ability of cannabis to prevent viruses from entering the body's cells could be responsible for a difference in clinical outcomes when compared to those of non-cannabis users.

«Cannabis smokers achieved better outcomes and mortality than non-cannabis users. The beneficial effect of cannabis consumption may be attributed to its potential to inhibit viral entry into cells and prevent the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby attenuating cytokine release syndrome,» said the researchers who conducted the study.

To reach their conclusions, the study authors examined data from the National Inpatient Sample, a U.S. government database that tracks hospital admissions, visit results and other patient admission information.

Patients admitted to hospital were divided into two groups: those who reported using cannabis and those who did not. Of the 322,214 hospital admissions examined in the study, fewer than 1%, or 2,603, reported cannabis use.

After methodically comparing the two groups, the scientists found that people who used cannabis were significantly less likely than others to experience negative consequences, including:

• Fewer cases of intubation insertion: 6.8 % versus 12 %
• Fewer cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): 2.1 % vs. 6 %
• Fewer cases of severe sepsis with multi-organ failure: 1.2 % versus 2.7 %
• Fewer deaths: 2.9 % versus 13.5 %

Previous studies on the role that cannabis and individual cannabinoids might play in the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome were «promising and exciting», but failed to reach any firm conclusions.

The scientists involved in the current study stress that there are limitations, adding that further research is needed to investigate the potential of cannabis as a tool to help patients fight viruses such as COVID-19.

«The significant reduction in mortality and complications warrants further investigation of the association between cannabis use and COVID-19. Our study highlights a future research topic for larger trials, especially considering the widespread use of cannabis,» they write.