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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Emily Venezky | Politifact

Does weed kill coronavirus? (Sorry, but no)

Alaska Cannabis Club CEO Charlo Greene smokes a joint at the medical marijuana dispensary in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2015. | Mark Thiessen/AP

An instagram post claims that weed can kill the novel coronavirus.

It isn’t true, bud.

The image resembles a breaking news story with a picture of a cannabis bud in the background. Similar to another claim that cocaine kills the coronavirus, this picture was made using a breaking news generator. There is no proof that marijuana can treat the novel coronavirus.

The CDC still reports that there is “currently no vaccine to prevent” and “no specific antiviral treatment recommended” for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. And the World Health Organization said specifically that smoking and “taking self-medication” are not recommended as coronavirus remedies.

Even though marijuana is used sometimes to treat chronic pain, it’s likely to give users “short-term problems with attention, memory, and learning,” the CDC says, and it can be harmful for developing brains. So, maybe not helpful for the coronavirus.

It’s legal to recreationally use marijuana in Illinois, but we wouldn’t recommend trying to treat the novel coronavirus with it. We rate this Pants on Fire!

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