Canadian Scientists: High Levels of CBD In Cannabis Could Protect from COVID-19

Quick Look:

• President Donald Trump says he is taking hydroxychloroquine for protection against novel coronavirus.
• The extract touted by the researchers is not available in dispensaries.

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The information surrounding how to treat the coronavirus outbreak is starting to circulate, and one of the innovations getting a lot of attention is from a team of scientists in Canada. As reported by The Next Web, these scientists have now discovered that there are 13 different Cannabis Sativa strains that they believe are the key to both preventing and treating COVID-19.

In the last few weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has been mentioning and even advocating for the use of hydroxychloroquine as the solution to COVID-19. There have been many people already trying to use this method themselves, trusting the former reality TV star’s statements over more educated sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

There’s already information that this is not a good option for the public, and a study published on Friday in a medical journal named Lancet even states that this substance comes with substantial risks. The study was brought to the public’s attention in an article in the Washington Post, which stated that there are substantial risks associated with hydroxychloroquine’s use. The study ultimately stated that the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine was much more likely to develop a type of irregular heart rhythm that can cause sudden death.

Do you know what won’t cause sudden death? Cannabis. While the mission to make a coronavirus drug or vaccine that could make millions for the president and Big Pharma, it hasn’t made much progress. Interestingly, Trump has a stake in the official drug name for hydroxychloroquine, Plaquenil, so consumers may want to consider that fact when the president mentions the treatment so casually.

Already with a distinct advantage, Canada is seeking out a way to potentially use the substance that they recently made legal nationwide. The research states that scientists,

“Have developed over 800 new Cannabis sativa lines and extracts and hypothesized that high-CBD C. sativa extracts may be used to modulate ACE2 expression in COVID-19 target tissues.

Screening C. sativa extracts using artificial human 3D models of oral, airway, and intestinal tissues, we identified 13 high CBD C. sativa extracts that modulate ACE2 gene expression and ACE2 protein levels.

Our initial data suggest that some C. sativa extract down-regulate serine protease TMPRSS2, another critical protein required for SARS-CoV2 entry into host cells.”

In the research paper, they stated,

“Screening C. sativa extracts using artificial human 3D models of oral, airway, and intestinal tissues, we identified 13 high CBD C. sativa extracts that modulate ACE2 gene expression and ACE2 protein levels.

Our initial data suggest that some C. Sativa extract down-regulate serine protease TMPRSS2, another critical protein required for SARS-CoV2 entry into host cells.”

Anyone with a medical card or access to recreational marijuana may be jumping for joy already, but don’t clear out your local dispensary just yet. The strains that the scientists have developed are specific to their research and are not likely available. Still, seeking out strains of high-CBD marijuana is a lot less risky in general than using an unproven method that has already been connected to death. That hasn’t stopped some avid Trump supporters from trying it out but to each his own.