A study published in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses hints that the primary psychoactive ingredient Cannabis known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may be an effective agent in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

The study used male rhesus macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a retrovirus that crossed the species barrier into humans producing HIV-1 and HIV-2, respectively.

The study, titled “Modulation of Gut-Specific Mechanisms by Chronic Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Administration in Male Rhesus Macaques Infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus: A Systems Biology Analysis,” found that giving THC to SIV-infected monkeys resulted in a generalized reduction in viral load and tissue inflammation. THC is the major psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, among 85 different different cannabinoids isolated from the plant.

The study design and results were described succinctly by the website Medical Jane,

Using monkeys as models, the Louisiana State researchers investigated the potential role of cannabis in treating HIV. They treated a group of infected primates with as much as 0.64 mg/kg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per day for 17 months.

“Tissue from monkeys treated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) expressed fewer signs of HIV.”

Considering the gut is one of the most common ways for HIV to spread, the research team sampled stomach tissue from the THC-dosed monkeys, as well as a group of infected primates that did not receive treatment.

According to their results, the virus did significantly less damage in THC group when compared to the control group. Tissue from monkeys treated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) expressed fewer signs of HIV also.”

There is no lack of research to support the value of this time-tested medicinal plant.

It has applications for so many diseases that clearly show how much of a gift to humanity is. This also makes it, and has made it a big threat to a number of industries, most notably the medical/pharmaceutical industry.

Luckily, if you live in Canada, you can grow your own. If you want to grow more than four plants in Canada, contact us and we will take care of the paper work and help you obtain the prescription you need in order to get your license to grow medical cannabis.