IACM Science: Marijuana does not Accelerate HIV Infection
BBSNews - 2003-08-31 -- Smoked cannabis and oral THC given over a course of 21 days
did not adversely affect CD4+ cell counts or viral loads in HIV-
infected patients, according to a study led by Dr. Donald Abrams
at the University of California in San Francisco. In fact, there was
a small non-significant positive effect of cannabis and THC on
these laboratory parameters compared to placebo. Cannabis and
THC also increased appetite and caused weight gain.
The study started in May 1998 and results were presented at the
ICRS Meeting in June 2000. However, they needed more than 3
year to get published in a medical journal, which is quite a long
time and raises the question whether there was pressure to delay
the publication.
All of the patients had been receiving the same anti-HIV
medication for at least 8 weeks before the study began. 62 study
participants were eligible (marijuana group, 20 patients; dronabinol
group, 22 patients; and placebo group, 20 patients). Although not
statistically significant, compared with placebo use the application
of marijuana and THC was associated with a slight drop in viral
load of 15% and 8%, respectively.
See: http://www.cannabis-med.org/studies/study.php
(Source: Abrams DI, et al. Short-term effects of cannabinoids in
patients with HIV-1 infection: a randomized, placebo-controlled
clinical trial. Ann Intern Med 2003;139(4):258-266; Reuters of 18
August 2003)
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The preceding report was provided to BBSNews by the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM).
Michael Hess is the Editor of BBSNews in Charlotte, NC. Write to the editor here. Not all submissions are published. Or visit the completely new BBSNews Blog and Forum on our front page - Please Participate in BBSNews!
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