Cannabis interacts directly with a system in our body that helps regulate our immune responses and we know that it can be helpful in treating auto-immune diseases. It is not necessarily as helpful when it comes to fending off viruses and other pathogens, however.
Chemicals in the cannabis plant like THC and CBD, called, cannabinoids, interact directly with the body’s endocannabinoid system. These chemicals mimic natural chemicals the body produces, all of which can trigger a wide variety of effects on functions like sleep, hunger, pain and mood.
Part of the endocannabinoid system’s role is to maintain homeostasis or balance of the immune system. While the literature contains some contradictions on how exactly that works, it is generally considered a “gate-keeper” of the immune system — preventing it from causing overwhelming inflammatory responses.
Still, while researchers have found immune differences in humans from cannabis use, they haven’t confirmed that these alterations make cannabis users more susceptible to infection.
So, while in some ways cannabinoids show promise for treating viral infections (such as reducing sepsis), they can also pose risks like suppressing needed immune responses.
Researchers report that cannabinoids do have potential as treatments for infectious disease but say we need much more research to learn exactly how to use them in a way that ensures they are helping and not hurting our chances against an infection. Until more research is done, we really can’t say for sure.
