How Cannabinoids Affect the Immune System During Infections
The endocannabinoid system plays a role in fighting infections, but cannabis use generally increases susceptibility to infectious diseases by modulating immune responses.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This review examined the complex relationship between the endocannabinoid system, cannabis use, and infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.
The overall pattern is that recreational or medicinal cannabis use tends to increase susceptibility to infections because of its impact on immune modulation. Cannabis compounds can suppress certain immune responses that are important for fighting pathogens.
However, the endocannabinoid system itself is involved in immune defense. Some evidence suggests endocannabinoid signaling participates in controlling and eliminating infectious agents including certain bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
Compounds isolated from Cannabis sativa have also shown direct antimicrobial properties in some laboratory settings. The reviewers noted that research on cannabis and fungal infections remains particularly sparse.
Key Numbers
The review covered infections across four pathogen categories: bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, with fungi having the least available research.
How They Did This
Narrative review of existing literature on the endocannabinoid system's role during infections, antimicrobial properties of Cannabis sativa compounds, and associations between marijuana use and infectious disease outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
For medical cannabis patients, especially those with compromised immune systems, understanding how cannabinoids interact with infection defense is clinically relevant. The dual nature of the system, with endocannabinoids helping fight infections but exogenous cannabis potentially suppressing immunity, creates a nuanced risk-benefit picture.
The Bigger Picture
This review highlights that the endocannabinoid system evolved partly as an immune regulatory system, not just a neurological one. The immunosuppressive effects of cannabis may be beneficial in autoimmune conditions but harmful during active infections, pointing toward the need for context-specific clinical guidance.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review without systematic methodology. Many of the reviewed studies are preclinical or observational. The review does not distinguish between different cannabis preparations, doses, or routes of administration in terms of immune effects.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are medical cannabis patients at measurably higher risk for infections?
- ?Could the antimicrobial properties of isolated cannabis compounds be developed into novel antibiotics?
- ?Does CBD have different immunomodulatory effects than THC during infections?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis use generally increases susceptibility to infections through immune modulation
- Evidence Grade:
- Narrative review synthesizing multiple lines of evidence from preclinical and clinical studies. Moderate because it covers substantial literature but lacks systematic methodology.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2017.
- Original Title:
- Immunoregulatory Role of Cannabinoids during Infectious Disease.
- Published In:
- Neuroimmunomodulation, 24(4-5), 183-199 (2017)
- Authors:
- Hernández-Cervantes, Rosalía, Méndez-Díaz, Mónica(2), Prospéro-García, Óscar, Morales-Montor, Jorge
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01401
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research without a strict systematic method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis weaken the immune system?
This review found that cannabis use generally increases susceptibility to infections by modulating immune responses. However, the body's own endocannabinoid system actually participates in fighting infections, so the relationship is complex.
Can cannabis compounds kill bacteria or viruses?
Some compounds isolated from Cannabis sativa have shown antimicrobial properties in laboratory settings. However, this is different from smoking or consuming cannabis, which tends to suppress rather than enhance immune function.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01401APA
Hernández-Cervantes, Rosalía; Méndez-Díaz, Mónica; Prospéro-García, Óscar; Morales-Montor, Jorge. (2017). Immunoregulatory Role of Cannabinoids during Infectious Disease.. Neuroimmunomodulation, 24(4-5), 183-199. https://doi.org/10.1159/000481824
MLA
Hernández-Cervantes, Rosalía, et al. "Immunoregulatory Role of Cannabinoids during Infectious Disease.." Neuroimmunomodulation, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1159/000481824
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Immunoregulatory Role of Cannabinoids during Infectious Dise..." RTHC-01401. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/hernandez-cervantes-2017-immunoregulatory-role-of-cannabinoids
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.