Does CBD work for treating COPD?
Those who claim that CBD treats COPD tend to believe that CBD can open up the bronchial passages, and help one to breathe easier. And there is a reason to believe that this is true. A study done over 40 years ago suggested that smoking marijuana diluted the lungs, and helped make it easier for people with asthma to breathe. However, what we don’t know still outweighs what we know. A 2018 controlled [1] trial of 18 participants with advanced COPD didn’t indicate that using mainly vaporized THC made any substantial difference in endurance or breathlessness during exercise as a result of airway dilation. In a 2011 small study [2], participants were given either cannabidiol and THC oil or a placebo to see if it helped relieve the symptoms of breathlessness. It didn’t appear to. But participants who were given the CBD/THC combination were less likely to feel “air hunger” or breathing issues in follow-up observations. Animal trails can also be considered. A 2014 animal study that involved mice with acute lung injuries experienced reduced inflammation and improved lung function. Although, this does not confirm that CBD is an effective and long-term treatment for the symptoms of COPD.