Important: This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. CBD is not a treatment, cure, or prevention for COVID-19. For COVID-19 prevention, vaccination guidance, or treatment, please consult your healthcare provider and follow CDC guidance.
When a pair of laboratory studies suggested that some cannabinoids could interact with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cell cultures, headlines moved quickly and the picture became muddled. This page lays out what the research actually showed, what it did not show, and why neither the FDA nor any major health body recommends CBD for COVID-19.
The bottom line, up front
- CBD does not cure or prevent COVID-19. It is not a vaccine substitute, an antiviral medication, or a treatment for any phase of COVID-19 illness.
- The FDA has issued warning letters to companies that marketed CBD products as preventing or treating COVID-19, citing that such claims make a product an unapproved new drug under federal law.
- The widely-cited 2022 Oregon State University study showed laboratory binding between CBDA and CBGA (precursor cannabinoids) and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in petri-dish conditions. It was not a human clinical trial and did not test whether consumer CBD products affect COVID-19 outcomes in people.
If you are looking for prevention or treatment guidance, the CDC and your healthcare provider are the appropriate resources.
What the Oregon State study actually found
In January 2022, researchers at Oregon State University published a paper in the Journal of Natural Products showing that two acid-form cannabinoids — cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) — could bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in laboratory assays. The research used isolated, purified compounds at controlled concentrations in cell-culture conditions.
A few important details about that study that often got lost in the news cycle:
- The compounds were CBDA and CBGA, not the CBD that appears in finished consumer products. CBDA and CBGA are the raw, acidic precursors found in raw hemp; they convert to CBD and CBG when heated.
- The work was done in vitro (in glassware), not in animals or humans.
- The concentrations used in the laboratory do not correspond to anything achievable through consumer CBD products taken orally.
- The authors explicitly cautioned against interpreting the results as a recommendation to take CBD products for COVID-19.
In other words, the study was a hypothesis-generating laboratory finding — interesting for future research, not a public-health recommendation.
What about CBD and the immune system more broadly?
There is preliminary research, mostly in animal models, exploring whether endocannabinoid signaling plays a role in inflammation regulation. This is a long-standing research area in cannabinoid science, predating COVID-19 by many years.
Two things to keep separate:
- “Cannabinoids interact with biological systems involved in inflammation” is a legitimate research statement.
- “CBD boosts immunity against COVID-19” is not a supported claim.
The first describes a research field; the second is the kind of claim the FDA has explicitly cited in warning letters.
What the FDA has actually said
The FDA’s published guidance on CBD and COVID-19 has been unambiguous:
- No CBD product has been approved by the FDA to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19.
- Companies marketing CBD with COVID-19 claims are subject to enforcement action.
- Consumers should be skeptical of any product claiming to prevent or cure a serious disease, particularly one that has had so much attention.
These positions have been consistent across the agency’s communications throughout the pandemic.
What we recommend instead
For COVID-19 prevention and treatment, the appropriate resources are:
- Your primary-care provider or, in an active illness, urgent care or telehealth services
- The CDC (cdc.gov) for current vaccination, prevention, and isolation guidance
- The FDA (fda.gov) for the current list of authorized treatments for COVID-19
CBD is a wellness supplement. It is not a substitute for vaccination, antiviral medication, or any other clinically-validated COVID-19 intervention.
If you currently use CBD and want to know whether to keep using it
This is a reasonable question. A few notes:
- CBD interacts with several liver enzymes (notably CYP3A4 and CYP2C19) that are also responsible for metabolizing some antiviral and other prescribed medications. If you are prescribed a COVID-19 antiviral such as Paxlovid, you should disclose CBD use to the prescriber, because dose-related interactions are possible.
- If you use CBD as part of a general wellness routine and do not have an active illness, there is no evidence that you should stop or start using it on COVID-related grounds.
- As with any supplement, your prescribing clinician is the right person to advise you on combinations.
Frequently asked questions
Does CBD prevent COVID-19? No. There is no clinical evidence that CBD prevents COVID-19 infection.
Does CBD treat COVID-19? No. CBD is not a treatment for COVID-19, and no CBD product is FDA-approved for that purpose.
What about the Oregon State study showing CBD blocks the virus? That was a laboratory binding study using CBDA and CBGA — not a human clinical trial — and the authors themselves cautioned against interpreting it as evidence that consumer CBD products affect COVID-19 in people.
Should I stop taking CBD if I get COVID-19? If you are prescribed an antiviral such as Paxlovid, tell your prescriber you use CBD so they can advise on potential interactions. Otherwise, this is a question for your healthcare provider.
Where can I learn how CBD actually works in the body? Our endocannabinoid system overview walks through the biology in plain language.
Disclaimer: The statements made on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, including COVID-19. The information here is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed medical professional. Always consult your healthcare provider for guidance on COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
