# Health outcomes and cognitive effects of marijuana use among persons living with HIV/AIDS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2021 · $777,541

## Abstract

Daily use of marijuana use is increasingly common in persons living with HIV (PLWH). In Florida, which
continues to have one of the highest rates of HIV incidence and prevalence in the US, voters are expected to
pass an amendment to legalize medical marijuana for use by PLWH in late 2016. While there is some evidence
that marijuana can improve HIV-related symptoms, there is almost no existing evidence regarding the long-
term health effects of marijuana in PLWH. Marijuana, which contains a number of different cannabinoid
products, could affect HIV health outcomes via both behavioral mechanisms (e.g. medication adherence,
motivation) and biological mechanisms (e.g. anti-inflammatory, viral suppression). The overarching goals of
this study are to obtain evidence regarding the influence of marijuana on major health outcomes and behavior
in PLWH in order to help guide clinical recommendations and identify risk factors for consequences. We are
especially interested in the relationship of marijuana to novel aspects of cognitive function (e.g. motivation,
intention, planning) and to systemic inflammation. To accomplish these research goals, we propose a new,
longitudinal cohort of 480 PLWH (160 regular marijuana users, 160 occasional marijuana users, and 160 non-
users). We will obtain detailed marijuana assessments, including cannabis biomarkers, together with repeated
measures of cognition, systemic inflammation, and HIV care engagement and health outcomes. Our Specific
Aims are: 1) To prospectively determine the association of daily and occasional marijuana use with HIV care
engagement, viral suppression, and HIV disease progression; 2) to prospectively determine the association of
past and current marijuana use with cognitive function, motivation, and planning; and 3) to prospectively
determine the association of chronic marijuana use with cytokine markers of chronic inflammation. For each of
these aims, we will conduct subgroup analyses to explore whether these relationships vary by individual
characteristics such as gender and age (>50 vs. <50), and by characteristics of past and current marijuana use,
including cannabis use disorder. This will be the largest prospective cohort study focused on the health effects
of marijuana in PLWH. The findings will inform HIV treatment providers and patients who are considering
marijuana to manage HIV-related symptoms or HIV disease itself, and will identify patterns of marijuana use
that are most strongly associated with the incidence of substance use disorders. Our research team is
multidisciplinary, our infrastructure is in place, and our preliminary data support the need for this project. The
research is consistent with current NIH HIV research priorities to reduce HIV transmission (by successful
treatment and viral suppression) and to reduce the onset of HIV-related comorbidities, including cognitive
dysfunction.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10127608
- **Project number:** 5R01DA042069-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert L Cook
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $777,541
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10127608

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10127608, Health outcomes and cognitive effects of marijuana use among persons living with HIV/AIDS (5R01DA042069-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10127608. Licensed CC0.

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