New Study Finds Cannabis Users Had Better Covid-19 Outcomes
A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research has found that people who use cannabis had lower rates of severe Covid-19 infections and were less likely to experience serious outcomes such as intubation or death. The study, conducted by researchers at Northwell Health in New York, analyzed hospital admissions data from the National Inpatient Sample Database and found that cannabis users had a lower risk of death and other serious outcomes compared to non-users.
The researchers matched patients to adjust for factors such as comorbidities, age, gender, and race, and found that cannabis users had significantly lower rates of severe Covid-19 infection, intubation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute respiratory failure, severe sepsis with multiorgan failure, and mortality. The study also found that cannabis users had a shorter hospital stay compared to non-users.
The study’s findings are consistent with previous research that has shown a potential association between marijuana use and Covid-19. For example, a 2022 study by researchers affiliated with Oregon State University found that compounds in cannabis prevented in vitro infection of human cells by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Another study by Canadian researchers earlier this year found that cannabinoids have the potential to be used as a preventive approach to limiting the susceptibility and severity of Covid-19 infections.
While the study’s findings are promising, some experts have noted limitations to the research, including challenges with meaningfully matching study subjects and a lack of important data, such as inflammation levels of patients and the types of cannabis products used by patients. However, the study’s authors and other experts in the field believe that the results suggest that cannabis may have a beneficial effect on Covid-19 outcomes, potentially by lowering inflammation and reducing certain immune responses.
The study’s findings are significant, as they suggest that cannabis may be a useful tool in the fight against Covid-19. With the ongoing pandemic, any potential treatment or prevention method is welcome news. However, it is important to note that the study’s findings are preliminary and more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between cannabis use and Covid-19 outcomes.
