The first month of 2022 has seen cannabinoids splashed across headlines as the world’s press seized upon the heartening news that cannabinoids have been shown to prevent and treat SARS Covid-19 infection. The great hope is that this positive research on cannabinoids and Covid will be quickly developed and that it will provide impetus for clinical cannabinoid trials and studies to be funded and undertaken.
The positive benefits of using cannabis for a wide range of conditions from cancer to epilepsy have been studied and understood for the last fifty years but both academic and privately funded research have been hampered by cannabis’ illegal status. Even now, research is hard won, particularly in terms of funding and permitting, the process often takes several years of application procedures for a study to be approved and undertaken. Despite all the difficulties, in the last twelve months some very encouraging results have been published. Researchers from Denmark to Brazil are studying the many different cannabinoid interactions in both human and animal subjects, all of which moves the cannabinoid debate and the scientific evidence further towards acceptance and availability.
The big news first: cannabinoids are shown to be effective in preventing and treating Covid. To recap: the first research on cannabinoids and Covid that came to the public’s attention was in July 2020, when a research team at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada published their paper on preventive treatments using CBD in the treatment of SARS Covid-19. Their research showed CBD could be used to combat Covid by modulating levels of ACE2 receptors: these receptors are found in vulnerable gateway tissue: lungs, kidney, liver, they act as entry portals for virus’ to gain access to cells – CBD blocked ACE2 receptor sites at a 70% percent success rate – radically reducing the possibility of infection.
This month new research from the Oregon State University published results of tests using two cannabis compounds : CDGA – cannabigerolic acid and CBDA – cannabidiolic acid which were found to have potential to fight coronavirus. In their laboratory tests these two compounds bound to the virus’ spike proteins and blocked a step that the pathogen uses to infect cells. The researchers used an “affinity selection-mass spectrometer “ a very powerful microscope that identifies the shape of the smallest particles and how they bind to targets in the body. Interestingly neither CBDa nor CBGa are designated controlled substances. In terms of extraction neither compound can be heat processed as this alters the chemical composition turning CBDa to CBD and CBGa to CBG.
This new published research paper from OSU has provided the medical cannabis industry with valuable insights into why these cannabinoids are working and a great confirmation of the potential benefits of cannabis.
Synergy Wellness has been producing full spectrum flower capsules, because they have a nice mixed ration CBD/CBDa. And we honored to announce we are now producing a full spectrum capsule of CBDA/CBGA , the “Super Immune “ which has been showing to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and provide immunity support against coronavirus infection.
Last year topical cannabinoid use gained some traction with some promising research into the effectiveness of cannabinoid topical creams for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, a painful side effect of chemotherapy treatment and also a symptom of Long Covid. Neuropathy is caused by nerve damage, symptoms include numbness, weakness and pain in the hands and feet. In November 2021, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Sutter Health in California published the results of their clinical study of 26 neuropathy sufferers using topical cannabinoid creams to treat symptoms. 22 of the participants reported that they had experienced significant relief. In early December a Brazilian research team released data from a study where CBD and a chemotherapy drug were administered to mice with allodynia, a form of neuropathy, long-lasting pain relief was noted.
CBD has a long history in cancer research and has previously been shown to combat several different types of cancer cells. In 2021 researchers in Denmark reported their study on the effect of CBD on cancer stem cells in lung tissue. Stem cells are a small subpopulation of self-renewing cells that drive tumor initiation and progression, lung cancer stem cells are notoriously difficult to treat. In the Danish study they discovered that CBD decreased viability and induced cell death in both lung cancer stem cell and cancer cell populations.
More good news from CBD cancer studies: researchers at Canada’s Ontario Veterinary College conducted a study of CBD’s ability to treat canine urothelial carcinoma, the most common form of canine bladder cancer. The study treated dogs undergoing chemotherapy and dogs who had cancer but weren’t on chemotherapy. In veterinary practice, using chemo as a monotherapy gives a low life expectancy surviving a year is considered normal.
All these discoveries are first steps in the ongoing process of cannabinoids being accepted into the pharmacopeia of western medicine. Current research is revealing the attributes of cannabinoids that traditional medicine systems have long attested. The scientific community and the present-day cannabis practitioners are moving cannabinoid-based therapies forward into academic awareness and community access. After much dedicated hard work and many set-backs the scene is set for cannabinoids to take their well deserved place in twenty-first century medicine.