Can I Treat HIV/AIDS with Medical Marijuana in Alabama?
HIV Qualifies for Medical Marijuana in Alabama
There aren’t many conditions that can be as devastating to your health as HIV, and any treatments that can offer relief from its symptoms can make a huge difference in a patient’s quality of life.
And HIV is far more common than people sometimes like to think. Government statistics show there are an estimated 1 million Americans living with the virus, with another 40,000 new cases diagnosed annually.
Fortunately for Alabamans who are living with HIV, medical marijuana can now be legally used to treat their symptoms. Here’s what Alabama HIV patients need to know about HIV medical marijuana.
3 Easy Steps
Medical Marijuana
Get approved to legally obtain, consume, transport and process medical marijuana from a licensed Alabama marijuana dispensary.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule your medical marijuana evaluation today! Book online or call our helpful Patient Support Center.
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We offer a variety of payment methods as well as veteran and senior discounts.
What Is HIV?
HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that attacks a person’s immune system, making it impossible for their body to protect itself against infections and illnesses.
Minor sickness that most people could get over in a day or two can be a major medical emergency for people who are HIV-positive. Even the common cold can cause serious medical needs for an HIV patient.
HIV works by taking over the immune system’s T cells, which support the immune systems of HIV-negative people. HIV then uses these corrupted T cells to produce more of the virus, so that an HIV patient’s body can never be free of the virus. There is no known cure for HIV, so a person who is HIV positive will always be HIV positive.
In addition to weakening the immune system and making the body more susceptible to other illnesses, HIV causes symptoms of its own. It’s these symptoms that HIV medications are intended to treat, since there is no way to cure the body of the virus. And many researchers think these symptoms can be treated safely and effectively with medical marijuana.
Which HIV Symptoms Can Medical Marijuana Treat?
Medical research indicates that medical marijuana can be a safe and effective treatment for a number of the symptoms most commonly associated with HIV.
Nausea and Weight Loss
One of the most common symptoms is nausea, and there is abundant research to suggest that medical marijuana is a highly effective nausea treatment.
This can help HIV sufferers feel more comfortable when eating, keeping their bodies healthier and helping them retain weight and get more nutrients into their bodies more regularly. That’s important because weight loss is another common problem for HIV patients.
Chronic Pain
HIV patients also commonly have to deal with chronic pain. Once again, this is a symptom medical marijuana has been shown to effectively treat.
Treating HIV Directly
There is even some research to show that medical marijuana could potentially slow HIV’s progression. One especially promising study found that the replication of HIV cells in the immune system was slowed down by a marijuana medication called Denbinobin.
This research has led to a lot of theorizing among medical researchers about the possibility that medical marijuana may be able to treat HIV itself and not just its symptoms. If that research continues to be as promising as it has been up until now, medical marijuana may help HIV patients lead longer, healthier lives, even if there is nothing that can cure the virus.
Anxiety and Depression
Finally, medical marijuana can be an effective treatment for anxiety and depression, both of which often strike HIV patients. Concerns over social stigmas that still surround the virus as well as the health concerns it causes often leave patients worried and depressed. The relaxing effects of medical marijuana are one of the most therapeutically valuable qualities of this natural, safe medication.
Get Your Questions About Using Medical Marijuana for HIV Answered
Overall, the research indicates that medical marijuana shows tremendous promise for HIV patients, not only as a treatment for their symptoms but to slow the progression of the virus as well. The result can be a longer, more comfortable, and healthier life.
More research is of course being done all the time, but enough has already been done to verify the value of medical marijuana as an HIV treatment, which is why Alabama lawmakers included HIV as a qualifying condition to get an Alabama Marijuana Card. To learn more about treating HIV with medical marijuana in Alabama, give us a call at (833) 781-5633.
Get Approved for Medical Marijuana Through Telemedicine
You will soon be able to get approved to receive an Alabama Marijuana Card right in the comfort and safety of your own home! Alabama Marijuana Card will soon be offering telemedicine appointments where you can meet virtually with one of our doctors through your computer or smartphone.
Reserve your appointment now, and not only will we connect you with one of our knowledgeable, compassionate doctors just as soon as we’re cleared to, but you’ll also save $25 off the cost of your evaluation!