Regular Cannabis Use May Positively Affect Covid-19 Outcomes

According to a new study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, patients who used cannabis experienced less severe cases of Covid-19 during hospitalization compared to those who did not use cannabis. Additionally, cannabis users had a lower need for intensive care and mechanical ventilation.

While it is known that cannabis has immunomodulatory properties, the clinical impact of its use on Covid-19 outcomes had not been thoroughly evaluated before. In this study, the authors aimed to assess whether outcomes improved for cannabis users hospitalized with Covid-19 compared to non-users.

Study Details

The research was conducted at two hospitals in Los Angeles, California, and was based on patient medical records. The study included 1,831 patients with Covid-19, of whom only 4% (69 people) reported active cannabis use. The authors acknowledge that this sample size is very limited, and the conclusions drawn are only preliminary. However, they state that “better outcomes may be related to the therapeutic properties, including the anti-inflammatory effects of certain cannabinoids.”

The study used a retrospective analysis of patient data, evaluating the severity of Covid-19 using the NIH scale, the need for supplemental oxygen, admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and mortality.

Key Findings

“Cannabis users had significantly better outcomes than non-users. This is reflected in lower NIH scores (5.1 vs. 6.0), shorter hospital stays (4 days vs. 6 days), lower rates of ICU admission (12% vs. 31%), and less need for mechanical ventilation (6% vs. 17%),” the study reports.

This is not the first study to examine the link between cannabis use and Covid-19, but according to the authors, it is the first to be conducted using real patient data from those hospitalized with Covid-19.

Source

• Our other channels
• Our friends and partners