Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia (MCIA) chair Peter Crock has warned against over-hyping the role of cannabis in tackling Covid after a number of studies suggested cannabinoids may have beneficial qualities in fighting the virus.
Speaking during a presentation by Cann Group, of which he is chief executive, Crock stressed it was important that cannabis should not be portrayed as a wonder drug.
Such an image, often inferred by fringes of the cannabis community, has been blamed for damaging the integrity of the medicine and for alienating GPs and already-sceptical specialist bodies.
Asked if Cann was “looking at opportunities” following studies suggesting cannabis could help prevent Covid, Crock struck a cautious tone.
“Speaking with my industry hat on, while there is some interesting science going on, what we want to avoid is cannabis or cannabinoids being talked up as a miracle cure across everything,” he said.
“Yes, there is work occurring in that space, and we are well placed from our research background to be involved. But we wouldn’t want to be pumping up a new Covid cure on the back of cannabis.”
Among recent research was a US study which showed promising signs that cannabis could prevent serious infection and potentially halt the spread of the virus in the first place.
