COVID-19, though it may feel like a thing of the past for some, continues to linger. Reflecting on the challenging years of 2020 and 2021, anecdotal reports suggested that the cannabis community experienced low rates of COVID-19 and minimal hospitalisations. These observations sparked curiosity: could cannabis play a role in preventing or lessening the impact of COVID-19?
Now, groundbreaking research provides compelling evidence that cannabis use might indeed benefit those hospitalised with COVID-19. The study analysed a staggering 1.7 million COVID-19-related hospitalisations, revealing a stark contrast: only 1.56% of cannabis users were hospitalised, compared to 6.29% of non-users.
Most notably, active cannabis users showed significantly lower rates of needing medical ventilation, developing lung blood clots, and succumbing to COVID-19. Specifically, the research indicates that cannabis consumers had 83.97% lower odds of dying from COVID-19 than non-consumers (2.77% vs. 3.95%).
These findings highlight the potential of the endocannabinoid system as a promising target for COVID-19 treatments. The data strongly suggests that cannabis users experience better outcomes when hospitalised with COVID-19, hinting at protective benefits from cannabis. This large-scale study validates earlier, smaller studies that also suggested cannabis consumers had more favourable outcomes compared to non-consumers.
However, it's essential to note that further research is needed to fully grasp these findings and understand how cannabis might aid in combating COVID-19.
This research contributes to a growing body of evidence showcasing the positive effects of cannabis. With ongoing studies, we're moving closer to comprehending how cannabis could play a crucial role in our fight against COVID-19.
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