Ex-NFL player Kyle Turley clashes with FDA over claims CBD can cure COVID-19

Former NFL player Kyle Turley has stepped down from his roles at company Neuro XPF in order to continue promoting CBD as a cure for the coronavirus.

Since retiring from football in 2007, Turley has suffered from various neurological health issues. Neuro XPF, which produces CBD oil and edibles, was founded by Turley after the offensive lineman was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). 

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission warned Turley’s company against making claims that the non-psychoactive cannabis compound can help treat the coronavirus, or COVID-19. 

“The FDA has observed that your website offers cannabidiol (CBD) products for sale in the United States and that these products are intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people,” the FDA wrote, adding that Neuro XPF should immediately halt sales of unapproved and unauthorized products for the treatment of the virus which has claimed the lives of over 75,000 people worldwide. 

After taking down the contentious claims from his website, Turley decided to speak out on Twitter.

“In the recent days many of you have witnessed the resentment and backlash of individuals and agencies who wish to silence my message and demand I stand down at the risk of losing all,” Turley tweeted this weekend. 

One of the Facebook posts containing advice on fighting the deadly virus with CBD advised customers to “crush corona” by boosting their immune systems.

“It’s what protects your body from the everyday attacks of bacteria, viruses, parasites and a host of other nasties,” according to Turley’s company. 

The ex-New Orleans Saints said that his decision to step down from the company was motivated by the “demand by our government leaders for all to do what we can to win this war on COVID-19” and protecting his employees, whom he says are at risk due to his “personal advocacy.” 

Turley, who also owns a dispensary in Moreno Valley, concluded his statement with a promise that he’ll keep informing the public about the “unwavering truths” about the endocannabinoid system “that must be exposed at this time through the dropping of Schedule 1 status on cannabis.”

Researchers look into effects of coronavirus on marijuana users 

Meanwhile, as the global pandemic starts to show signs of a slowdown, researchers at the University of Miami have initiated a study on the impact of COVID-19 on medical marijuana patients. 

“The global qualifying conditions for medical cannabis, though not uniform, all include individuals with compromised immune systems and other chronic health conditions. Therefore, this is a population that we cannot forget about in our joint effort to ‘flatten the curve,’” epidemiologist Denise C. Vidot said. 

The study will be conducted via an online anonymous survey, which the researchers hope will reach cannabis users from “every country.”