Your Medications and Marijuana

(updated April 20, 2020)

During the current coronavirus pandemic, many national celebrations of 420 day have been canceled or scaled back, and there’s a growing concern that smoking marijuana may raise risks associated with COVID-19. But with many states on lockdown, there’s been a run on supplies as people stock up to stay home⁵.

With the growing legalization of marijuana, which has been approved for recreational use in 18 states and for medical use in 37 states¹, there’s naturally a lot of buzz around the medical benefits. Emerging research suggests it may be a safer substitute for opioids to treat pain. But what about potential drug interactions?

Limited Research

But as research continues into the possible benefits of using marijuana for treatment, questions remain about how cannabis might interact with prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) medications a person may also be taking.

Some states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, as well as for recreation to varying degrees, however, the federal government has not. The tight federal restrictions create a challenge in researching how marijuana interacts with other products, either OTC or prescribed.

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Interactions With Medications or Lifestyles

Some examples of medication types and common interactions include:

Synthetic Marijuana (Marinol)

In addition to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) is found in high concentrations in marijuana. CBD does not produce any of the psychoactive responses and appears to block some of the effects of THC by acting as an antagonist at the cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinol is weakly psychoactive and appears to be primarily formed from the metabolism of THC. Another metabolite of THC is thought to contribute to the tachycardia and appetite-stimulating effects of cannabis.^2,3

An FDA-approved synthetic form of marijuana uses a chemical compound similar to those found in cannabis. Marinol (drobinol) is approved to help with nausea induced by chemotherapy as well as anorexia caused by AIDS.

The Takeaway

For most patients, cannabis:

• Is relatively safe
• Well-tolerated, and;
• Carries fewer risks of adverse drug interactions than many commonly prescribed drugs.

Given its therapeutic versatility, one of the best arguments for cannabis is that it can actually reduce the need to combine multiple medications, therefore lowering the potential risk of adverse interactions.⁴

References:

1. https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1
2. https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-03-08/how-does-marijuana-interact-with-medications
3. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2014/december2014/drug-interactions-with-marijuana
4. https://www.leafly.com/news/health/cannabis-cannabinoids-drug-interactions
5. https://www.leafly.com/news/health/cannabis-coronavirus-covid-19-facts 

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