The recent outbreak of the coronavirus has left many people on edge, and rightly so. With the numbers of those infected and reported deaths increasing by the day, the US government, both on a state and federal level are scrambling to get to grips with the challenge the lies ahead. This has led to some incidents of panic where people have stockpiled food and other essentials (hey, anybody got some toilet paper?).
Jokes aside, the coronavirus is no laughing matter, which is why it didn’t take long for one Portland hemp retailer to incur the wrath of Oregon Attorney General for spreading what could be misunderstood for “fake news.” According to reports, the hemp retail store at Portland put up a sign which basically read; “lung support immunity tinctures.” Hence, claiming that the hemp-derived products they were selling were a possible “cure” for COVID-19.
The store was quick to oblige the Attorney General, and took down the advertisement.
While there are some studies that show that hemp oil/CBD could be beneficial for helping with immune health, there absolutely does not exist a shred of scientific data that suggests that the use of hemp-derived products is any sort of treatment for COVID-19.
Here’s the thing, it’s with scientific certainty that we know that our immune system plays a vital role in keeping us healthy, and, in fact, is the first line of defense against attacks from bacteria, germs and viruses. So, could hemp oil/CBD possibly boost our immune system against the coronavirus?
Cannabinoids, which is the active ingredient in hemp oil/CBD, has been backed by quite a few scientific studies which show that hemp is beneficial in some cases for the relief of pain which occurs as a side effect from chemotherapy in cancer patients. Hemp is also used as an effective treatment for those suffering from insomnia and depression. Additionally, there are quite a few studies which also suggest that hemp could be beneficial for boosting the functions of the immune system. But, as with most things, more studies are necessary. While there are some studies that show that hemp oil/CBD could be beneficial for helping with immune health, there absolutely does not exist a shred of scientific data that suggests that the use of hemp-derived products is any sort of treatment for COVID-19.
On the flip side of that argument, there’s certainly enough evidence to suggest that the cannabinoids present in the hemp plant do have certain medicinal effects and may be effective for their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. In any case, more studies are certainly required.
According to authorities, the marketing used by the hemp store was in direct violation of the Substantiation Rule, which became law in April, and requires all promotional health claims to be supported by scientific proof. And we repeat: There is no scientific evidence that supports the claim that hemp or hemp-derived products or hemp oil/CBD can be used as a treatment against COVID-19.