Contributor: Asia Mayfield
The world is convulsing with the effects of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus that burst into reality a few months ago. Movie theaters and bars are closed. Restaurants are offering takeout and delivery only. Millions of people are holed up inside, isolating themselves against possible infection.
Cannabis’ role as both medicine and recreation is now critically important. People desperately need mental relief, but they’re becoming increasingly conscious of what they put into their bodies. The coronavirus panic prompted a run to the dispensary, as well as to the grocery store.
“We’ve had both lines of cars and lines of people wrapping around our buildings,” Steve DeAngelo of Harborside dispensaries in California, told ABC News when the panic intensified. “It’s not about getting high, it’s about being well.”
As society looks to a post-pandemic future, cannabis is set to play a major role. Eventually, the pressure will fade and the initial crisis will be over. When that happens, the questions surrounding cannabis, and the way it affects the human body, will still need to be solved. Research into cannabis is far from over.
Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System
First, let’s discuss why you feel anything when you consume cannabis.
Cannabis affects you largely because of its cannabinoids, which are compounds that are unique to cannabis plants. The rest of the effect can be attributed to terpenes, which are aromatic oils that are common in the plant world.
Cannabinoids react with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a series of receptors littered throughout your body. The receptors are designed to interact with neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids.
As Healthline notes: “Endocannabinoids, also called endogenous cannabinoids, are molecules made by your body. They’re similar to cannabinoids, but they’re produced by your body… These help keep internal functions running smoothly. Your body produces them as needed, making it difficult to know what typical levels are for each.”
Cannabinoids from cannabis plants hijack the ECS. If it weren’t for these reactions, you wouldn’t have such a strong response to cannabis. The most common cannabinoids are THC and CBD.
Cannabis as a Superfood?
The term “superfood” has no legal definition. You could use the term to describe a block of chocolate, as easily as a head of broccoli. However, the term still conjures associations in the consumer’s mind. People think of superfoods as being particularly healthy.
In that sense, cannabis can be thought of as a superfood. People want to protect their health during the pandemic. Boosting your immune response is one way to do this.
The ECS is thought to regulate everything from your hunger response to your moods. Some researchers even believe that the body’s ECS plays a role in cancer and disease. Cannabis might provide your body with unique defense tools.
SEE ALSO: Health Canada readies next steps for ‘cannabis health products’
Cannabis and Coronavirus
COVID-19 has already had an incredible impact on society. These aren’t changes that will go away quickly. Everything from dispensaries to cannabis culture will be affected. The first changes will be seen at the pot shops. These are legal businesses with valuable licenses to protect. They’re incentivized to follow government health regulations.
However, the public made it clear that access to cannabis is not something that governments can easily revoke after it’s granted. States across the country are enforcing lockdowns and asking nonessential businesses to close, yet dispensaries are allowed to stay open.
“The Department of Health today clarified that since cannabis has medical use, dispensaries will be allowed to operate as essential businesses just like pharmacies are allowed to do,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said, after being forced to clarify her position on the city’s “shelter in place” plans.
Cannabis, therefore, is a medical necessity. The mayor didn’t have to clarify her stance on bars and liquor stores. The tangible health benefits of cannabis are still being determined.
There are other changes, however, that dispensaries can enact now. In response to the health crisis, many are adopting “social distancing” policies. As one dispensary owner explained to ABC: “We’re going to be shifting to online orders for pick-up only. We will no longer be doing consultations in stores… We’re also assigning employees to be constantly sanitizing in the stores, and other employees will be making sure that guests and team members are observing social distancing. We’ll be monitoring the line outside for social distancing, as well.”
Regulators in other states with business closures are also allowing cannabis dispensaries to remain open. If they hadn’t made this decision, it’s not clear that people wouldn’t have purchased cannabis anyway. Instead of buying from licensed growers, they might have turned to the black market.
“Unlike most other products in our society, especially in California, there is an extremely robust underground market for cannabis. If the dispensaries in California were closed, that slack would immediately be taken up by unlicensed delivery services,” another dispensary owner told ABC.
“Those unlicensed delivery services do not test their cannabis, they don’t know the provenance of that cannabis, they don’t know who’s been breathing on it, who’s been handling it.”
Legal cannabis is a boon to patients because they were granted access to safe, high-quality medicine. All of the plant’s potential benefits disappear if the plant material is sullied with pesticides, mold, or other harmful substances. If sick people turn to the black market, they’re risking their health.
Protecting Yourself
COVID-19 is forcing other changes on the cannabis community, as well. The happy, social stoner who believes in the “puff, puff, pass,” philosophy is disappearing. The health-conscious pothead is rising up instead.
“As long as cultures have consumed cannabis, the practice of sharing a joint amongst friends has been a common social practice,” Erik Altieri, executive director of pro-cannabis lobby NORML, explained.
“But given what we know about COVID-19 and its transmission, it would be mindful during this time to halt this behavior… Further, because COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, some may wish to limit or avoid their exposure to combustive smoke — as this can put undue stress and strain on the lungs… The use of edibles or tinctures can eliminate smoke exposure entirely.”
You don’t need to give up cannabis because of a respiratory virus. Smoking might be inadvisable for some consumers, but as Altieri notes, that’s not your only option. You can find a safe way to consume or ingest cannabis despite your physical condition.
Here are a few tips for staying healthy.
1. Avoid dispensary crowds: Dispensary lines are notoriously crowded. Protect yourself by shopping during off-peak hours. If that’s not possible, see if you can place your order ahead of time. Some dispensaries allow you to place an order for pickup online or through the phone. You’ll be notified when your order is ready, then you can skip the line.
2. Don’t smoke: If you’re worried about your lungs, don’t smoke. Instead, try an edible or a tincture.
3. Pay attention to terpenes: Many of the benefits associated with cannabis are related to terpenes. If you’re hoping for a specific health effect, search for a particular terpene profile.
4. Stop sharing: Keep your joints to yourself. If you’re sharing a pipe, hold the lighter flame over the mouth hole for twenty seconds before you smoke.
Final Thoughts
Cannabis is sought after, both for its therapeutic and recreational effects. It’s not clear that cannabis is a “superfood” because that’s a buzzword that doesn’t have real meaning. The general idea, however, still applies. Cannabis plants are full of beneficial compounds that can affect your health.
