Short-term effects of cannabinoids in patients with HIV-1 infection: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Cannabinoid use could potentially alter HIV RNA levels by two mechanisms: immune modulation or cannabinoid-protease inhibitor interactions (because both share cytochrome P-450 metabolic pathways).

Objective: To determine the short-term effects of smoked marijuana on the viral load in HIV-infected patients.

Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, 21-day intervention trial.