New Study Suggests Weed May Help Protect you From COVID

When the coronavirus broke on these shores there were lots of scientifically-backed warnings that smoking marijuana would make you more susceptible to the potentially deadly virus.

The tables may be turning.

Scientists at the University of Lethbridge in Canada tested 400 cannabis strains for an ability to modulate the levels of ACE2, which is an enzyme previously linked to COVID-19 infection.  They found 13 CBD extracts that are able to change ACE2 levels.

"A number of them have reduced the number of these (virus) receptors by 73 percent, the chance of it getting in is much lower. If they can reduce the number of receptors, there’s much less chance of getting infected," biological scientist Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, who lead the research, explained.

The study has yet to be peer-reviewed, and Kovalchuk concedes they aren't sure what the ideal ratio of CBD to THC is, or that it's even the CBD that's reducing the virus receptors.

For now, you can just feel a little better smoking up in these troubled times.