It's good to know that Cheech and Chong will be safe, as researchers have found that compounds that naturally occur in cannabis may prevent COVID-19 infection.
The researchers at Oregon State University found that cannabinoid acids from hemp were able to block the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, from entering human epithelial cells.
Epithelial cells "form the covering of all body surfaces, line body cavities, and hollow organs, and are the major tissue in glands," according to the National Cancer Institute. The cells do a lot, including protection from viruses.
In their research, a pseudovirus expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was tested on cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid, both found in hemp.
The study was published in the Journal of Natural Products on Monday and found that both compounds were equally effective against the alpha and beta variants.
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According to the OSU researchers, both of the compounds they tested against the virus have "a long history of safe human use."
There are differences between hemp and marijuana, even though they are both from the cannabis plant. For example, they are used differently and have different legal statuses because THC—tetrahydrocannabinol—is a psychoactive compound.
Cannabis is considered hemp if it has less than 0.3% THC in it, while any cannabis exceeding that number is considered marijuana, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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