Approximately 40 years ago, there was some initial marijuana research performed showing a potential link between suppression of the immune system and smoking marijuana.
There are individuals who consider smoking marijuana to put users at risk of infection, and might conceivaly harm to potential for AIDS victims to fend off infection considering those patients already have a lowered immune system at baseline.
A researcher named Nahas in the 1970's evaluated T cells of both non marijuana smokers along with smokers. T cells help fight infections. The initial study showed weakened immune responses in the smokers' T cells, leading the researcher to say marijuana was therefore dangerous because of the resulting weakened immune system.
However, numerous subsequent scientists have not been able to replicate Nahas' results, and interestingly Nahas himself could not duplicate them either. That body of research showed no difference in the immune systems of smokers versus non smokers.
Animal studies have evaluated THC in extremely high doses and shown some immune impairment, however, those results have never been replicated in humans.
When the FDA was approving the synthetic THC Marinol in 1985, they found no concrete evidence that THC reduced immune function. They looked at a large body of research concerning the effects of THC on humans.
A legitimate question exists on whether smoking marijuana is harmful to a person's lungs. Marijuana smoke is not unlike tobacco smoke in that they both have hazardous toxins.
There is another concern with AIDS patients smoking marijuana, with care needed to make sure the product is not contaminated with aspergillus fungus. This may occur, and unfortunately in AIDS patients may result in a life threatening infection.
Heavy marijuana smokers do have a higher risk of respiratory disease such as bronchitis. This is different than immune system modulation, however, and no studies so far have shown a decreased immune system as a result of marijuana intake.
There are individuals who consider smoking marijuana to put users at risk of infection, and might conceivaly harm to potential for AIDS victims to fend off infection considering those patients already have a lowered immune system at baseline.
A researcher named Nahas in the 1970's evaluated T cells of both non marijuana smokers along with smokers. T cells help fight infections. The initial study showed weakened immune responses in the smokers' T cells, leading the researcher to say marijuana was therefore dangerous because of the resulting weakened immune system.
However, numerous subsequent scientists have not been able to replicate Nahas' results, and interestingly Nahas himself could not duplicate them either. That body of research showed no difference in the immune systems of smokers versus non smokers.
Animal studies have evaluated THC in extremely high doses and shown some immune impairment, however, those results have never been replicated in humans.
When the FDA was approving the synthetic THC Marinol in 1985, they found no concrete evidence that THC reduced immune function. They looked at a large body of research concerning the effects of THC on humans.
A legitimate question exists on whether smoking marijuana is harmful to a person's lungs. Marijuana smoke is not unlike tobacco smoke in that they both have hazardous toxins.
There is another concern with AIDS patients smoking marijuana, with care needed to make sure the product is not contaminated with aspergillus fungus. This may occur, and unfortunately in AIDS patients may result in a life threatening infection.
Heavy marijuana smokers do have a higher risk of respiratory disease such as bronchitis. This is different than immune system modulation, however, and no studies so far have shown a decreased immune system as a result of marijuana intake.
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