The Association Between Marijuana Use and HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Curr HIV/AIDS Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2019 Jan 24

PMID 30671919

Citations 28

Authors

LaTrice Montgomery

Kara Bagot

Jennifer L Brown

Angela M Haeny

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Approximately 77% of HIV-infected adults report lifetime marijuana use. Given the high rates and social acceptability of marijuana use among HIV-infected individuals, it is important to gain a stronger understanding of if, and how, marijuana impacts HIV care cascade outcomes. The purpose of this study is to systematically review recent articles that assess the relationship between marijuana use and HIV continuum of care outcomes.

Recent Findings: One hundred and ninety articles from PubMed were considered for inclusion, and 15 were included in the review. The studies focus on marijuana use among HIV-infected individuals aware of their serostatus (k = 4), individuals engaged in treatment (k = 1), marijuana use in association with adherence to antiretroviral medications (k = 6), and marijuana use in relation to multiple stages of the HIV care cascade (k = 4). Preliminary findings from the small number of studies revealed an association between marijuana use, especially current heavy use, and HIV seropositivity. However, results from studies assessing marijuana use and treatment engagement and adherence to antiretroviral medications were inconsistent and inconclusive. Additional research is needed to assess the nuanced relationship between marijuana use and HIV continuum of care outcomes, especially among subgroups of HIV-infected individuals, such as men who have sex with men and young adults.

Citing Articles

Patterns of Cannabis Use among Women With HIV in the United States.

Haley D, Bullington B, Tien P, Knittel A, Bobitt J, Kempf M AIDS Behav. 2025; .

PMID: 40050488 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-025-04669-z.

Comorbidities and HIV-related factors associated with mental health symptoms and unhealthy substance use among older adults living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study.

Ross J, Rupasinghe D, Chanyachukul T, Crabtree Ramirez B, Murenzi G, Kwobah E J Int AIDS Soc. 2025; 28(3):e26434.

PMID: 40045453 PMC: 11882396. DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26434.

Cannabis Use and Self-Reported Bothersome Symptoms in People with HIV.

Wrona A, Justice A, Tate J, Rentsch C, Gordon K, Kidwai-Khan F Cannabis. 2025; 8(1):177-190.

PMID: 39968492 PMC: 11831903. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis/2025/000269.

Correlates of Using Medically-Authorized Cannabis in a Large Cohort of People Living with HIV Who Use Cannabis.

Coelho S, Wardell J, Kroch A, Rueda S AIDS Behav. 2024; 29(3):858-869.

PMID: 39656341 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04568-9.

Cannabis use patterns among people with HIV before and after legalization.

Hahn A, Ruderman S, Nance R, Delaney J, Whitney B, Eltonsy S Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2024; 13:100291.

PMID: 39555143 PMC: 11566314. DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100291.

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