Cannabis for COVID-19 Treatment

[Created4]

When I see multiple headlines from the corporate media pundits warning marijuana users that smoking weed will increase their risk for COVID-19, I tend to think this is fake news with no real evidence to support their claims, and that the opposite might actually be true.

As is the case so often with REAL cannabis medical research, the Israelis seem to be taking the lead on the possible health benefits of cannabis and COVID-19.

While this research seems to center only on CBD, it is fairly well known that CBD derived from cannabis (as opposed to hemp) generally has better results in most situations.

So while THC continues to be demonized, I will bold/highlight the apparent contradiction in the article below, with a brief comment in parenthesis.

Israel Researchers Launch Clinical Trials To Test CBD As COVID-19 Treatment Supplement

Israeli researchers have launched three clinical trials that utilize CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties as potential COVID-19 treatment.

Israeli scientists have launched clinical trials into whether cannabis can play an effective role in stopping or slowing the coronavirus. Though lung health experts have warned smoking marijuana could exacerbate COVID-19 and its spread (reference????), Israeli scientists will study cannabidiol (CBD) alongside existing treatment options as a possible solution.

Last week, InnoCan Pharma announced a collaboration with Tel Aviv University to instill CBD medicine through exosomes — or the small cell structures created when stem cells multiply. The unconventional method will utilize the exosomes as “homing missiles,” as they can uniquely target cell organs damaged by COVID-19. Researchers then believe CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties will repair the damaged cells through a synergistic effect.

As COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system, scientists will have patients receive CBD-enriched exosomes through an inhalation device (So rather than the old cliche "I smoked but did not inhale" made famous by some guy in Arkansas, now we have "I inhaled but did not smoke.") Previous studies have shown CBD can help regulate the body’s immune system and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

A second clinical trial will occur over the coming weeks and includes 10 Covid-19 patients currently undergoing treatment in Israel’s Rabin Medical Center. Doctors will combine traditional steroids and CBD, with the belief CBD will enhance the therapeutic potential of the steroids. The trial, conducted by Stero Biotechs in collaboration with Mor Research Application, already has plans to expand treatment to 40 additional patients should it prove successful.

“We estimate that our CBD-based treatment can enhance the current treatment of those patients who are in life-threatening conditions,” Stero Biotechs founder and CEO David Bassa said in a statement. “Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are mostly being treated with steroids and our study is planned to demonstrate the benefit of a combined solution with Steroid treatments. We are hopeful that this study will lead to faster benefit for the growing number of COVID-19 patients in Israel and around the world.”

A third study, launched by Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center, will investigate whether CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties could lower respiratory symptoms experienced in moderate COVID-19 patients.

Canadian researchers have also announced intentions to study what role cannabis can play in slowing COVID-19. They also believe marijuana’s anti-inflammatory properties could provide a crucial role in potential treatment.

(Source.)

 

[Created4]

Is It Okay to Smoke Weed Right Now?

Interview with Sunil KumarAggarwal, M.D., Ph.D.

EDUCATION

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington Medical Scientist Training ProgramGlobal Health Pathway7/2002 -6/2010
M.D.,6/2010

Graduate -University of Washington,College of Arts and Sciences,Seattle, WashingtonAdmitted to Post-Master’s StatusGeography (Medical Geography)Advisor: Jonathan Mayer, PhDDissertation: “The medical geography of cannabinoid botanicals in Washington state: access, delivery, and distress”8/2004 -8/2008
Ph.D., 12/2008

Excerpts:

As a mysterious respiratory illness sweeps across the planet, medical marijuana patients and recreational users alike have been looking at their bongs and wondering: Is this a bad idea? In a wide-ranging interview about what he has seen at his clinic and in local hospitals, what he thinks of our state's response to the crisis, and what he believes personally about the benefits of cannabis, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal points out that not all delivery systems are the same. "Tinctures, edibles, non-smoke delivery methods, topicals—these are probably the safest" right now, the doctor says.

Your clinic integrates cannabis into patients’ wellness plans. Have you changed what you tell patients about cannabis in light of COVID-19?

Already medicinal cannabis use is not a shared activity. This is really about minimizing contact with other peoples' germs. The question of whether cannabis itself will suppress or lower the immune threshold that makes you more susceptible—we have no evidence of that. The International Association on Cannabinoid Medicines put out a statement at the end of last month that there's no evidence that cannabis could be used to treat COVID-19, but there's also no evidence that it could increase the risk of viral infection. They also acknowledge there are clinical studies that show that cannabinoids could have anti-viral, anti-bacterial effects. So it has not really come up at my clinic, in any major way. My naturopathic medicine colleagues are really experts at thinking about how to help support people's immune functions, to keep them at their best level of health. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians has recommended intravenous vitamin C be given to patients—that they should be given to patients in hospitals who are effectively sick with COVID...

It has been reported that tobacco smokers are at greater risk of death from this coronavirus than non-smokers. Do you know if there is any data about cannabis smokers and COVID-19?

I haven't seen anything. But certainly we know that smoking with cannabis, regularly heavy users can have more chronic bronchial irritation, and may be more susceptible to bronchitis. The term is called "pulmonary toilet"—like, how effective is your bronchial system at clearing and getting rid of mucus, viruses, bacteria, debris? There might be a little less sturdy function in people who have chronic exposure to smoke. But there's no relationship to cannabis smoking and development or COPD or lung cancer. That's been definitively found in large studies—

Wait, really?

Yes. Yes, Dr. Tashkin at UCLA has shown that nicely. It's mentioned in a couple epidemiological studies. And then also there's been some nice data lung function in a study called the CARDIA study that was done published out of UCSF. It was a multi-center large study that studied peoples' lung function for years, and actually, people who used cannabis had a little bit improved pulmonary dynamics. Like, ability to blow air faster. Some of those dynamics were improved in cannabis users in a large study that was published a number of years ago. But that may not help you in fighting COVID-19. But it could be a question if your bronchial irritation might impair pulmonary toilet. In general, doing everything we can to improve your lung function with a virus that causes severe acute respiratory distress syndrome is important.

So you do acknowledge that smoking cannabis might be a bad idea right now considering this is a respiratory illness?

In general, smoke, anything that irritates your lungs, in general, if you can minimize that with non-smoke delivery, that's probably better for your lungs. What's the threshold where it causes excessive irritation or inflammation? It's going to vary from person to person. And it's also the dose and the degree. But I can say there's a relationship between regular cannabis use and bronchial irritation.

You're blowing my mind with cannabis smoke not being linked to COPD or lung cancer. That's amazing.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse will say that: "Oh, it's still an open question." But I don't think it is. There's a party line and there's the quality data that's out there. I've written that and published that in peer-reviewed journals, and many others have too.

How do you view vaping? We heard all these health scares about vaping in the fall.

Oh yeah, all that vaping scare had to do with what we already knew for a long time: that certain solvents should not be used in those devices. Propylene glycol, vitamin E acetate—these things we shouldn't be adding to something that is low heat that's then being brought to our lung system. The original vaping was dry-flower vaping: low-heat, low-combustion on flower. And then of course concentrates took off, and that's really where this Wild West thing took off. But people who don't use solvents? We don't have any evidence that you're putting anything into your body except cannabis resin at low heat.

But you are not recommending to anyone to completely stop using cannabis, even recreational users.

Recreation to me is really an aspect of the spiritual use of cannabis—spiritual health and well-being. Because cannabis helps people find meaning and joy and bliss, and that's so important to health, so I don't want to minimize that. And I think also this whole idea of sharing things, you know, finding some way to connect—it's vital for our health too. So I think we should find ways to maintain that, but safely, so we don't put each other at risk.

Speaking of this phrase "essential business." What is your reaction to the rather abrupt about-face from some government entities who not long ago considered cannabis distribution as a crime and now consider it an essential part of society?

[Laughs.] Yeah. Just, uh... [Laughs.] A smile and a laugh. That's my response right now. Things are changing. The other day I got to speak about cannabis to some of the leaders of the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)—a bunch of these NIH institutes, especially NIDA, that have really avoided and ignored this entire beneficial framework. So the fact that I could talk to them for 40 minutes at a national public thing was a shift. That hadn't happened. Of course, these things are going to definitely impact how we perceive the role of cannabis in society after we get past this pandemic.

Full Interview

 

[pcosmar]

Cannabis has Known anti-viral properties.. and a Smoke filled atmosphere inhibits airborne viruses.. (Sage Smoke was tested)

I use Cannabis regularly.. for Health.

I don't get sick often. and had a cold earlier this year (in the time frame) we were all recovered about the time of the first fatalities...
And It put Carol into Bronchial Pneumonia,, the reason for the Oxygen Machine next to me.

She has not needed it in a month.

 

[Created4]

Cannabis has Known anti-viral properties.. and a Smoke filled atmosphere inhibits airborne viruses.. (Sage Smoke was tested)

I use Cannabis regularly.. for Health.

I don't get sick often. and had a cold earlier this year (in the time frame) we were all recovered about the time of the first fatalities...
And It put Carol into Bronchial Pneumonia,, the reason for the Oxygen Machine next to me.

She has not needed it in a month.

Wow, that's great news! Thanks for sharing...

 

[olehounddog]

I'm 61, been tokin since I was 12. Last time I remember being sick was a bout of pneumonia in the mid 80's.Last visit to an MD was early 90's. That was for epididymitis. Now that was painful stuff.

 

[donnay]

I read a couple of studies that says even nicotine is also helping. In one French study I read, they were putting nicotine patches on patients and it was working.

Reference:
https://nypost.com/2020/04/22/french-researchers-to-test-nicotine-on-coronavirus-patients/
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/h...9/news-story/616d8f570780c5eba4d76b34ba015c7e
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/t...-smokers-from-catching-coronavirus-2020-04-24

 

[pcosmar]

I read a couple of studies that says even nicotine is also helping. In one French study I read, they were putting nicotine patches on patients and it was working.

Does make some sense.. Nicotine has several beneficial effects,, most have not been explored due to the Pseudoscience against Tobacco.

 

[shakey1]

All the more reason to de-schedule this plant.

 

[69360]

I swear some of you think weed cures everything! Totally your business, doesn't bother me one bit if you use it. I just think it's funny.

 

[pcosmar]

I swear some of you think weed cures everything! Totally your business, doesn't bother me one bit if you use it. I just think it's funny.

Not so much "cures' as prevents. I see it more as a health supplement..
It promotes general health.

And it has an abundance of beneficial side effects.

Helps the Body heal itself.

 

[Anti Globalist]

Would eating weed gummies be a good treatment?

 

[Working Poor]

I swear some of you think weed cures everything! Totally your business, doesn't bother me one bit if you use it. I just think it's funny.

That is probably one of the underlying reasons it was made illegal. It helps prevent many different things and has been used for at least 2 millennium as such..

Proof that a square peg can fit up a round hole...

 

[Created4]

That is probably one of the underlying reasons it was made illegal. It helps prevent many different things and has been used for at least 2 millennium as such..

Proof that a square peg can fit up a round hole...

It has tremendous health benefits. From stopping seizures in some people to curing cancer, it is a huge threat to Big Pharma, which is why all these "studies" keep coming out about how "dangerous" it is. Big Pharma controls all the top medical journals.

I doubt it will be legal on the federal level until Big Pharma has their drug equivalents that are patented. Then they will continue the stigma that it is still just a stoner crowd that uses it like an illegal drug, or just recreational benefits like alcohol, and then it will be illegal to make any claims for health benefits or curing a disease, and they will go after the doctors who do, of which today there are many.

Dr. Frankel in Santa Monica, CA, for example, is one of the best medical doctors in the U.S. who has researched it, and prescribed it. But the Jews have done the most medical research, by far.

 

[Working Poor]

It has tremendous health benefits. From stopping seizures in some people to curing cancer, it is a huge threat to Big Pharma, which is why all these "studies" keep coming out about how "dangerous" it is. Big Pharma controls all the top medical journals.

I doubt it will be legal on the federal level until Big Pharma has their drug equivalents that are patented. Then they will continue the stigma that it is still just a stoner crowd that uses it like an illegal drug, or just recreational benefits like alcohol, and then it will be illegal to make any claims for health benefits or curing a disease, and they will go after the doctors who do, of which today there are many.

Dr. Frankel in Santa Monica, CA, for example, is one of the best medical doctors in the U.S. who has researched it, and prescribed it. But the Jews have done the most medical research, by far.

The Nazis have too. Haven't you heard? They own science it is what they tell us it is.The Jews are going to follow the dietary and health recommendations of their religion in their research.