America Addresses Two Epidemics: Cannabis and Coronavirus and their Interactions: An Ecological Geospatial Study

Albert S Reece; Gary K Hulse

In summary we found strong bivariate and multivariable confirmatory evidence for the hypothesis that cannabis use is associated with coronavirus infection. A strong quintile effect was noted along with a prominent effect of cannabis decriminalization. After adjustment cannabis use emerged as a persistent, independent and robust correlate of CVIR at high levels of significance. This finding is of concern and suggests a powerful negative feedforward interaction between two major public health challenges faced by USA and the international community. Given the immediate salience and potent imminence of the coronavirus epidemic this association is well worth further immediate epidemiological research. The present report indicates stricter cannabis controls as one public health measure by which to address an infectious challenge and support cellular and soluble immunity for the whole community. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 . CC-BY-NC 4.0 International license It is made available under a author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.