Photo Courtesy of MLive
A study published
in the Journal of Natural Products found that certain compounds in cannabis can help prevent infections from COVID-19.The study, “Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants,” was published on Jan. 10. Researchers affiliated with Oregon State University found that cannabis compounds block the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human epithelial cells.
“Cannabinoid acids from hemp (Cannabis sativa) were found to be allosteric as well as orthosteric ligands with micromolar affinity for the spike protein,” the steady read. “In follow-up virus neutralization assays, cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid prevented infection of human epithelial cells by a pseudovirus expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and prevented entry of live SARS-CoV-2 into cells.”
Marijuana lovers near and far had fun with the news on social media. “The Late Show” also weighed in and joked that famous cannabis connoisseurs Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson and Seth Rogen have never contracted the virus. Other Twitter users noted they had also smoked
a fair amount of ganja and have never gotten COVID.“Compounds found in cannabis may help combat Covid-19. Three people who’ve yet to contract the virus are Seth Rogen, Willie Nelson, and Snoop Dogg. Coincidence? #LSSC.”
Richard van Breemen of Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center in the College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute led the study with scientists at the Oregon Health & Science University.
Van Breeman said cannabinoids studied by researchers are familiar and readily available. The scientist also noted that cannabis compounds effectively treat other viruses, such as hepatitis and HIV-1.
“These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts,” van Breemen said. “They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans….They have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2.”