For one, the study involved testing against two early COVID variants, Alpha and Beta, but provided no data about the effects on the now dominant Omicron variant.
“Our infection inhibition assay results clearly indicate that CBDA and CBGA are both able to block cell entry by SARS-CoV-2. The concentrations needed to block infection by 50% of viruses is high but might be clinically achievable,” the research authors explained, reiterating that any potential treatment should be combined with proper doses of the COVID vaccine.
While CBD-containing products are available on the market, they note that these products vary vastly in quality, CBD content, and their pharmacokinetic properties after oral administration, which is mostly unknown.
Researchers also explicitly warned against the use of existing means of CBD delivery, such as edibles or inhalation, for treatment or prevention purposes, and highlighted the importance of vaccinations against COVID.