Perhaps it wasnt surprising that ads touting cannabidiol (CBD) would spring up during the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, the cannabis derivative has been touted in recent years for its antiviral properties.

But this doesnt mean its effective against the novel coronavirus. And for people who take certain medications, it may not be safe.

CBD might one day prove to be helpful for people who have or who are recovering from a viral illness, but the current data dont support its use with the coronavirus, says Jahan Marcu, PhD, a longtime cannabis researcher in New York City and editor in chief of the American Journal of Endocannibinoid Medicine.

If youre using CBD as a shield to protect yourself against the coronavirus, thats a risky roll of the dice right now, he says.

Those who study CBD have been alarmed by some of the claims being made by advertisers. The board of the International Association on Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM)put out a statement in March asking members not to amplify false information that is circulating on the Internet.

Sunil K. Aggarwal, MD, PhD, an integrative medicine physician who uses cannabis in his Seattle practice, notes that there is no evidence that CBD protects against coronavirus infection or effectively treats it, the same message the IACM is working to convey.

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Cannabis plants, which include both marijuana and hemp varieties, contain hundreds of different compounds. The most famous is tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, which is the chemical that makes you high. Another is CBD, which does not create a high.

Hemp plants contain negligible amounts of THC, a key reason why companies have been able to sell a broad array of hemp products. CBD has been especially popular in recent years, with an explosion of offerings featuring the substance in everything from pills and tinctures to coffees and skin cream.

Many CBD products are sold online, with a growing number also available from dispensaries in states that have legalized medical or recreational cannabis.

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Despite CBDs widespread availability, hardly any research has been conducted in human subjects. This is because laws governing the legality of cannabis make these investigations difficult.

The most widely researched use for CBD is for epilepsy, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approving the first CBD-based drug, Epidiolex, in 2018 to treat rare forms of the disease. The drugs manufacturer, GW Research, tested it in hundreds of patients before getting approval.

For most other uses, much of the research has involved laboratory animals and test tubes. It is here that CBD has shown promising antiviral properties, as well as antibacterial and other effects, Dr. Marcu says.

CBD may also relieve anxiety and help you sleep, according to a tiny study of 15 people published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology back in 1981. Researchers found that patients with insomnia taking 160 milligrams of CBD before bed (but not lower doses) slept longer than those taking a placebo.

But as the IACM notes, no human studies have been published regarding CBDs effects on the coronavirus.

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Marketers touting CBD often point to a 2017 statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that says in its pure state, cannabidiol does not appear to have abuse potential or cause harm.

But they rarely mention the rest of the WHO statement that the organization does not recommend cannabidiol for medical use.

The chemical is not side-effect free, with people taking CBD reporting problems including diarrhea, fatigue, and vomiting, according to a 2019 review in Current Neuropharmacology.

For people with chronic health conditions, another issue is the possibility that CBD might interact negatively with certain medications.

A report published on the U.S. National Library of Medicine site warns people on the seizure medications clobazam (Onfi and Sympazan) and valproic acid (Depakene) not to take CBD, since it can increase these drugs side effects or boost the risk of liver injury.

For many other medicines, CBD can impact how much of the drug circulates in the body. CBD targets the same metabolizing enzymes in the liver as many common medications, Marcu says. If youre on other medicines, you must proceed with caution.

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If you have consulted with your physician and decide you still want to use CBD, its crucial that you buy it from a reputable manufacturer, experts say. Youll want a company that tests each batch of product and lists the batch number on the bottle itself, so you can link it to corresponding test results on the companys website or via a phone call to customer service.

One giveaway a product isnt up to snuff: Its too cheap. Good CBD is costly, with a bottle of tincture typically selling for $60 or more.

As for how much to take, your guess is as good as any. There havent been studies on the various dosages, so nobody really knows, Dr. Aggarwal says.

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Can CBD Fight COVID-19? - Everyday Health