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1. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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HIV AND CANNABIS RESEARCH
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2. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the
Science That Started It All for Medical
Marijuana
Where do we stand with AIDS research and medical marijuana?
Posted by:
Joseph Billions , today at 12:00am
12
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The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a microorganism that wreaks havoc on the immune system. The cells that
are the components of the immune system, like white blood cells, assist the body in fighting off infections brought on by
fungi, viruses, bacteria, and other foreign organisms.

3. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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Without this immune system, we can not maintain sound health for very long. These cells help to create our natural
immunity (our first line of defense) and adaptive immunity (the antigen response dispersed to stop specific infections).
Due to HIV destroying essential components of the immune system, patients are less equipped to battle everyday
infections and more severe microorganisms.
Although there have been no thorough surveys carried out on medical cannabis users in the United States, smaller-
scale surveys show that most users are looking for relief from AIDS symptoms. For instance, each of the three California
marijuana buyers' clubs, organizations that make marijuana available to patients, visited by the IOM team, recorded
that more than 60 percent of their members asked for AIDS treatment.
CANNABIS and HIV: THE RESEARCH
HIV is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. It used to be the deadliest in the late '90s and early 2000s.
Thanks to medical innovations and research, antiretroviral drugs have been made available to weaken this virus and
improve patients' lives.

4. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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It's now time to go into some studies exploring the relationship between cannabis and patients with HIV.
CANNABINOID AND INFLAMMATION
Severe inflammation fuels many diseases. That very word "inflammation" has a negative reputation, but in reality, it
helps to survive. When coming into contact with an infectious microorganism, the immune system releases
inflammatory cells and signals molecules to launch an attack against the invaders. However, some specific health
conditions hinder the body from turning off this hostile attack. Over time, this process can begin to cause damage to
bodily tissues.
Although some components of the immune system are depleted due to HIV infection, others, such as monocytes,
become highly activated. This can lead to systemic inflammation, which puts patients at a higher risk of coming down
with neurological, cardiovascular, and bone diseases. Many HIV patients also showcase an imbalance in their gut

5. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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microbiome—the trillions of microbes that significantly influence immunity and inflammation.
A lot of HIV patients go through neurocognitive impairment and changes in behavior due to neuroinflammation caused
by the virus. Different research teams have now ventured out to check if cannabis can play a role in reducing
inflammatory signals (https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/cannabis-for-inflammation-why-does-is-work-so-well) that give
rise to this symptom.
For instance, a study published in the journal AIDS Care (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6432787/)
looked at one hundred and thirty-eight HIV patients' previous cannabis use to see if the herb affected their
neurocognition. A comparable study published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes observed the
effects of cannabis on neurocognitive impairment in six hundred and seventy-nine patients with acquired immune
deficiency syndromes.
In addition, a 2021 study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8402692/) sought to ascertain if cannabis
changed the lower central nervous system inflammation in HIV patients. The researchers chose HIV-positive patients
who consume the herb daily, HIV-negative patients who didn't take cannabis, HIV-positive patients who didn't take
cannabis, and HIV-positive patients with an average use pattern.
CANNABIS AND IMMUNITY
Since problems with immunity are at the heart of HIV, it is reasonable that researchers look to analyze the effect of
cannabis on immunity in HIV patients. Though data obtained through human trials remains sparse, a group of
researchers suggested a study protocol in 2019 to examine the impacts of oral cannabinoids on immunity activation in
HIV patients.
The study's concept calls for the recruitment of 26 HIV patients with an undetectable viral load for at least three years.
The researchers would go on to randomize the recruits into two groups and give oral capsules to each for 12 weeks; one
group would be assigned capsules with a 1:1 THC to CBD ratio (https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/the-perfect-cbd-to-
thc-ratio-new-study-says-1-to-1-is-the-best-ratio-for-therapeutic-effects), while the other would get a proportion of 1:9.
The paper states that the study was approved by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. However,
the findings are still unpublished.

6. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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PAIN AND CANNABIS
A couple of hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide are legitimately prescribed marijuana for a bunch of
conditions, and severe pain is still one of the most common. Studies are targeting the ECS to alleviate HIV-associated
neuropathic pain (https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/cannabis-for-hiv-pain-relief-researchers-get-a-1.37-million-grant-
for-further-study) as researchers continue to uncover the role of the ECS in pain signaling.
In addition to this, a systematic review published in 2021 searched through the current preclinical and clinical data
obtained from studies that pitched endocannabinoids, cannabinoids, and ECS enzyme inhibitors against strains of HIV.
In terms of clinical evidence, the majority of the investigations involved smoked cannabis.
HIV AND CANNABIDIOL: POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS
The relationship between HIV and cannabis hasn't been ascertained, as the data collected so far remains inconclusive.
Additionally, cannabis possesses some clear downsides that will challenge manufacturers and researchers over time.
Though the plant contains over one hundred cannabinoids, THC and CBD are the most present in the majority of
cultivars.
While THC has psychotropic side effects (which might exacerbate various mental health disorders), CBD has been
known to produce an upset stomach and tiredness in some people, as well as interact with a wide range of
pharmaceutical medicines.
BOTTOM LINE
Since becoming classified as a virus in 1981, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus has taken over thirty-five million lives.
The deadly virus originated in animals and spread to human beings through hunting practices. As soon as it enters the
body, the pathogen targets crucial immune cells, leaving patients' immune systems weak and making them vulnerable
to everyday infections.

7. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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Researchers are now looking at whether cannabis could be linked to HIV symptoms as science continues to put the herb
and its ingredients against a broad spectrum of health concerns. So, is there a future to look forward to with cannabis
and HIV?
Luckily, the backing for legal marijuana continues to increase, and several nations have already put cannabis programs
in place. As acceptance of cannabis grows and data from human tests accumulates, many more conclusions could yet
be drawn regarding the impact of cannabis on HIV patients.
HIV RESEARCH WITH CANNABIS, READ THIS...
(https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/cannabis-for-hiv-pain-relief-
researchers-get-a-1.37-million-grant-for-further-study)
CANNABIS FOR HIV PAIN RELIEF GETS NEW MILLION DOLLAR GRANT! (https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/cannabis-
for-hiv-pain-relief-researchers-get-a-1.37-million-grant-for-further-study)

8. 4/1/22, 11:29 AM Cannabis and HIV - A Look Behind the Science That Started It All for Medical Marijuana
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OPINION
Could Hemp be the Solution to the World's Energy Crisis?
Furthermore, hemp can serve as the major raw material in the production of ethanol, an effect that makes it possible for food stores to be actually employed in
the production of foods instead of being utilized to produce fuels thus reducing the strain on food supply. Also, the phytoremediation ability of hemp is another

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(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/could-hemp-be-the-solution-to-the-worlds-energy-crisis)
huge plus that makes it so valuable. Hemp doesn't just grow pretty well under adverse soil conditions, they enhance the quality of the soil after a while. So the…

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(https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/why-you-need-to-try-cannabis-suppositories-today)
MEDICAL
Why You Need to Try Cannabis Suppositories Today
The high you’d get from cannabis suppositories are different, though. Many prefer it because it’s cleaner and purer; it reaches the circulatory system without
having to pass through the liver and the upper gastrointestinal tract, often resulting in higher cannabinoid concentrations.
HOW TO
How To Grow Really Colorful Cannabis Plants