'Marijuana Cures Ebola' Claim Investigated: Cannabis Researchers Weigh In

Since the Ebola virus ravaged three countries in West Africa, health experts and governments around the world have been scrambling to boost efforts to contain the virus. An effective vaccine has yet to be developed but some claims of "cures" began to circulate on the Internet including a former U.S. governor's statement that marijuana can cure Ebola.

Cannabis Sativa, one of the world's biggest marijuana companies, medical director Dr David Allen echoed CEO Gary Johnson's statement that cannabis could potentially stop Ebola. Johnson was also a former Libertarian candidate for U.S. President and served as governor of New Mexico from 1995 through 2002, reports said. After appearing in a TV show, Johnson explained that he was simply "arguing" for more research to be done to test whether certain cannabis compounds will be effective in fighting Ebola.

Johnson told the Albuquerque Journal that if he was on bed-ridden and infected with Ebola, he would take anything to save his life "in a nanosecond." He was named CEO and president of Cannabis Sativa with the purpose of selling medical and recreational cannabis.

According to a spokesman for the U.S. Health Department, the agency did not know of any studies suggesting marijuana as the cure or treatment for Ebola. Latest reports said the outbreak in West Africa has killed almost 4,500 people. The World Health Organisation has previously predicted that the number of deaths will continue to increase if no effective vaccine is released soon.

The recent cases of Ebola in North America had prompted more researchers to find effective methods to fight the virus. As the virus infects others outside of West Africa, Ebola has increasingly become a global concern that if left uncontrolled, scientists fear it could affect a large number of the world population.

Cannabis experts weigh in on the possibility of marijuana curing Ebola. NewCure.org founder Brad Morehouse believes the use of cannabis to control the virus may greatly reduce the number of deaths and may benefit clinical use. Morehouse said enough research on cannabis fighting diseases like Lyme disease is "overwhelming." He revealed cannabis is currently being studied as a viable treatment to HIV as the substance boosts the immune system.

Global research has indicated that marijuana has significant medical potential but cannabis advocates are hampered by legalities regarding widespread use. Ebola studies have concluded that the virus kills by cytokine storm which fatally affects the human body's immune system. Medical cannabis advocates believe the anti-inflammatory and antiretroviral properties of the substance can reduce the severity of cytokine storm.