MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR HIV/AIDS?
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: HEALTH CONDITIONS

 

Florida law formally recognizes a positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.

 

WHAT IS HIV/AIDS?

  • HIV is a virus that weakens a persons’ ability to fight against and recover from infections. There is no cure, but HIV can be managed with medications.
  • A person with an HIV infection might first experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and sore throat. Once the HIV infection has progressed, patients can be asymptomatic, or may have symptoms such as weight loss and nerve pain that can worsen over time.
  • If not treated, an HIV infection can lead to AIDS. Patients with AIDS may experience severe infections or other severe illnesses that may lead to death.

 

CAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA HELP HIV/AIDS?

HIV cell illustration

  • There is limited evidence to support that medical marijuana is effective for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
  • However, medical marijuana might be able to improve symptoms of HIV infection by assisting a person to eat more to maintain their body weight. Some studies also show reduced nerve pain (known as neuropathic pain) in patients with HIV/AIDS that use medical marijuana.

 

WHAT SHOULD I ASK MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER?

1. Discuss any need for dosing adjustments for HIV/AIDS treatments, or for prescription medications to treat other conditions, such as pain, depression, cancer, or for an autoimmune disorder.
 2. Discuss if you have any history of substance use disorder or mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.
 3. Report and discuss any concerning effects of medical marijuana with your physician.
Certain compounds found in medical marijuana (e.g., cannabidiol) can interact
with medications for HIV/AIDS and other conditions and may require further dosing adjustments that should be guided by a physician.		 Patients with these conditions are often excluded from clinical trials that examine the effectiveness and safety of medical marijuana, due to concerns about an increased risk of adverse events. There are many possible interactions between medical marijuana, diseases, medications, and other substances. Therefore, regular communication with your healthcare provider can assist in identifying risks.

 

Please note: This document is for informational purposes only, but is not medical or legal advice and should not be used to make healthcare decisions. Please consult your healthcare provider to find out what treatment options are available for you.

 

Sources

1The 2020 Florida Statutes. Title XXIX, Chapter 381, section 381.986: Medical use of marijuana.

2Jugl S et al. A Mapping Literature Review of Medical Cannabis Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Evidence in Approved Conditions in the USA from 2016 to 2019. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids 2021.

3Wood RB. The natural history and clinical features of HIV infection in adults and adolescents. In: UpToDate, Sax PE & Mitty J(Eds.), Wolters Kluwer. (Accessed on April 7, 2024.)

4National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

5Haney M, Rabkin J, Gunderson E, Foltin RW. Dronabinol and marijuana in HIV(+) marijuana smokers: acute effects on caloric intake and mood. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005;181(1):170-178.

6Haney M, Gunderson EW, Rabkin J, et al. Dronabinol and marijuana in HIV-positive marijuana smokers: Caloric intake, mood, and sleep. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2007;45(5):545-554.

7Abrams DI, Jay CA, Shade SB, et al. Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology. 2007;68(7):515-521.

8Ellis RJ, Toperoff W, Vaida F, et al. Smoked medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain in HIV: a randomized, crossover clinical trial. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2009;34(3):672‐680.

9Brown, J.D.; Winterstein, A.G. Potential Adverse Drug Events and Drug–Drug Interactions with Medical and Consumer Cannabidiol (CBD) Use. J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, 989. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8070989

 

Updated 2024

 

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