A recent study of THC treated monkeys which were later infected with SIV showed that markers of SIV replication were significantly reduced in the THC treated animals compared to controls.  See http://tnprc.tulane.edu/2010symposium/abstracts/AIDS_Symposium_2010_4-41.pdf.

Although this is a very encouraging study, anyone who is infected with HIV should not conclude that it is safe to stop taking antiviral drugs and that adequate control of viral replication can be attained with the use of marijuana alone. Please consult your physician for further input. Also, if you are living in a state where marijuana is approved for medicinal use, you may want to enroll in a study which is being planned to study the effect of marijuana on viral loads and immune parameters. Please contact Dr. Travis regarding this study for more information at info@immugen.com.

Perhaps the most important research paper in years demonstrating the potential benefit of THC which could have significant public health implications shows that mice were protected from a lethal strain of swine flu (PR8H1N1) virus when treated with THC.

The micrograph on the left shows that the lungs of an untreated mouse are flooded with immune cells (purple dots) which is, in effect, pneumonia. The image on the right represents a mouse infected with the same virus but treated with THC. The authors of the article concluded that there was “modest to no inflammatory cell infiltrate in the submucosa and alveolar airspace”  despite the presence of the virus. Conclusion: THC was protective of the lungs. Immugen is preparing long term studies with non-psychoactive derivatives of THC to prevent the consequences of an influenza infection, i.e. pneumonia.

April 4, 2008 - Before speaking to the 5th Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics in Pacific Grove, CA, Deputy Director of NORML Paul Armentano talks about new science on Cannabis (marijuana) and the Endo-Cannabinoid system being done in Europe, while American cancer patients, many with tragic cases of Glioma brain tumors, seek any news of an alternative therapy.

Paul references the work of Dr. Manuel Guzman, Madrid, who has seen THC kill brain cancer cells while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed, demonstating the neuroprotectant properties of Cannabinoids.

Then Paul is joined by Dr. David Bearman, of Galeta, CA, who tells of the fear that patients feel when encountering an cancer like Glioma.

Paul has collected the latest research on medical Cannabis, available in a PDF or booklet at:
http://norml.org

We also talk about Cannabis in the treatment of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and the documentary I'm doing on Cathy Jordan, a medical marijuana patient who has survived ALS for 22 years now!

View "Surviving ALS" in chapter releases:

http://YouTube.com/SurvivingALS

Cannabis Therapeutics Conference hosted by Patients Out of Time:

http://MedicalCannabis.com

Numerous studies have concluded that therapeutic marijuana/cannabinoid use is not harmful, yet clinical benefit has yet to be confirmed through research. The reasons for this lack of therapeutic confirmatory research have more to do with governmental and pharmaceutical company apathy and indifference than the ability to conduct such research.

This clip from Botany of Desire does a fantastic job of explaining how and why medical marijuana can help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.