Oregon State research shows hemp compounds prevent coronavirus from entering human cells

(JANUARY 14, 2022) Scientists are looking for ways to treat patients with COVID-19. Researchers at Oregon State University in Corvallis think they might have a new treatment. They say chemicals in the hemp plant (the same plant as marijuana) can prevent the coronavirus from entering human cells.

Richard Van Breemen is a researcher at OSU. He worked with other scientists from Oregon Health & Science University. They found that a pair of "cannabinoid acids" (chemicals) stick to the coronavirus. The chemicals can stop multiple kinds of coronavirus from infecting people.

“If somebody has been exposed ... what do you do?" asks Van Breeman. "Today we’re advised to go home and isolate and find out later if we get sick or not. We need an intervention then. This would be the perfect intervention.” (An intervention is medical treatment to prevent sickness.)

Van Breeman says the chemicals are not the same as THC, which is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. They can be taken by mouth, and they are safe for humans. Some products with these chemicals already exist. However, more research is needed to learn if they are effective to stop COVID-19.

Van Breemen thinks it is possible, but he needs to do more experiments to prove it.