Medical marijuana is used to treat a number of different conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Cancer, Crohn's disease, Eating disorders such as anorexia, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Mental health conditions like schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Multiple sclerosis, Muscle spasms, Nausea, Pain and Wasting syndrome (cachexia). Photo: Getty Images

Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie in a social media update shortly after the passing of the Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020, said, 'Major medicinal and economic benefits are in the Act for our people of the Virgin Islands and the Territory, as this is yet another initiative geared towards diversifying our economy in midst of the COVID-19 era.' Photo: Facebook/File

Researchers are studying cannabis' potential as an adjunct treatment for COVID-19. Photo: Getty Images

Medical marijuana is already used to treat a number of different conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Cancer, Crohn's disease, Eating disorders such as anorexia, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Mental health conditions like schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Multiple sclerosis, Muscle spasms, Nausea, Pain and Wasting syndrome (cachexia).

‘Anti-inflammatory powers’

And as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the United States, researchers have started to look for solutions in the cannabis plant.

According to an article in Forbes.com on July 6, 2020, this month, researchers from the University of Nebraska and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute are recommending more research into how cannabis-derived Cannabinoids (CBD) might help treat dangerous lung inflammation from the novel coronavirus. The authors detailed the evidence for how cannabis’ anti-inflammatory powers may help in a peer reviewed article in this month's issue of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

In the article, researchers explain that “recent reports have suggested that acute infection is associated with a cytokine superstorm, which contributes to the symptoms of fever, cough, muscle pain.” These extreme instances of inflammation can lead to severe pneumonia which clog up the lungs, make breathing difficult or impossible. So, one of the important strategies  that scientists are studying in the fight against COVID-19 is reducing inflammation.

CDB the most likely candidate

In particular, researchers are looking at drugs which reduce IL-6 cytokine activity. In a recent study, one such drug, Tocilizumab, was able to clear out patients' lungs, and resulted in recovery for 90% of the patients treated. Unfortunately, it also produced serious negative side effects like inflammation of the pancreas and hypertriglyceridemia (a risk factor for coronary artery disease). This has led researchers to continue the search for anti-inflammatory strategies - preferably ones that aren’t as harsh on these already critically ill patients.

That’s where cannabis comes in. The authors explain that several cannabinoids in the cannabis plant have anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, they point to CBD as the most likely candidate for treating COVID-19 related inflammation. CBD has shown serious anti-inflammatory properties in previous studies, it doesn't create the disorienting psychotropic effects associated with cannabis’ most common chemical THC, and it has already been approved by the FDA as safe for children with intractable epilepsy. If successful at reducing inflammation for COVID-19 patients, it could be a safer alternative to other anti-inflammatory options.

VI Cannabis bill awaiting assent from Governor

Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie in a social media update shortly after the passing of the Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020, said, "Major medicinal and economic benefits are in the Act for our people of the Virgin Islands and the Territory, as this is yet another initiative geared towards diversifying our economy in midst of the COVID-19 era."

The bill essentially paves the way for the Territory to establish its own medicinal marijuana industry, through the cultivation of special strains of cannabis on local farmlands, for medicinal purposes.

The bill is awaiting assent from Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert before becoming law.