Long COVID And Cannabis: Research Provides Hope For Millions Dealing With Debilitating Symptoms

A study assessing the potential of marijuana to help with various Long COVID symptoms recently published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology ‘laid the foundations' for further research. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Long COVID is a term used for people whose symptoms continue to occur after acute infection. 

At least 65 million individuals around the world had Long Covid in 2022, according to research published last year in the Nature Review Microbiology Journal. 

Symptoms include sleep problems, fatigue, trouble with concentration, pain, anxiety and depression, which can often be managed with marijuana-based medicines, writes Cannabis Health News. 

For example, a German clinical study showed medical marijuana significantly improves chronic depression symptoms. Another large study recently revealed that cannabis provides similar pain relief benefits as opioids without negative consequences. 

See Also: New Study Shows Medical Cannabis May Relieve Patients Suffering From Fatigue

New Study Highlights 

Scientists at Drug Research conducted a preliminary study, sponsored by Australian pharmaceutical company Bod Healthcare. The researchers examined the safety and tolerability of its MediCabilis 5% CVD oil, a full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant cannabis-based medicinal product (CBMP) in treating Long COVID symptoms. 

12 participants took part in the research that concluded CBD-dominant CBMPs are safe and well-tolerated in individuals diagnosed with Long Covid. No participants reported any serious adverse events, showing the treatment was safe and tolerable. 

"The study drug was safe and well-tolerated, demonstrating feasibility of CBD-dominant cannabis-based medicinal products in individuals diagnosed with long COVID," the authors wrote in the conclusion. "However, there were limitations in research design related to recruitment strategy demonstrating a lack of feasibility in the approach implemented in this study. Future work with larger samples and incorporating a control group are required to test the efficacy of this treatment."

The same researchers at Drug Science last year confirmed "multiple lines of evidence" to support the use of marijuana-based medicines in Long Covid.

"This is an exciting feasibility study showing both safety and tolerability of CBD dominant medical cannabis for the treatment of Long COVID – offering a potential new avenue to treat this challenging and still insufficiently understood condition,” said Dr. Anne Schlag, Drug Science CEO and head of research. “With our recently launched Drug Science Consultancy, we are looking forward to conducting more innovative research on medical cannabis to further develop the scientific evidence base, and ultimately, ensure that this medicine can be accessed by all patients who need it."

During the Cannabis Europa 2023 business conference and expo, co-author of the study, Dr. Hannah Thurgar talked about these findings. 

Continue reading on Cannabis Health. 

Related Links: 

Cannabis And Covid: Cannabinoid Acids Found In Hemp Can Prevent And Treat Coronavirus Infection, New Research Suggests 

Cannabis Consumers Who Had COVID-19 Experienced Better Outcomes Than Nonusers, New Study Shows

Cannabis And Covid: Preventive And Long-Term Therapeutic Approach Revealed In New Study 

Photo: Courtesy of CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM via Wikimedia Commons.