A new study shows that cannabis users may have better outcomes when it comes to severe COVID-19 infections. Researchers found that chronic cannabis users had lower rates of severe complications like acute respiratory failure, intubation, ARDS, and severe sepsis with multiorgan failure, as well as lower mortality and shorter hospital stays compared to non-users. This research, using data from over 322,000 patients, suggests that cannabis' immunomodulatory effects might play a protective role.

The study, published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, matched cannabis users with non-users based on age, race, gender, and comorbidities. Even after accounting for these factors, cannabis users showed significantly better outcomes. These findings align with other research that suggests cannabinoids can prevent viral entry and help manage post-COVID symptoms like anxiety, pain, and insomnia.

Although some early claims about cannabis preventing or curing COVID-19 were premature, the growing body of research highlights the potential role of cannabis in reducing the severity of COVID-19 infections.