Scientists discover smoking weed could benefit HIV patients

Medical marijuana.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Roll 'em up — in the name of science.

A new Michigan State University study recently found that a chemical present in marijuana may be able to slow mental decline in HIV patients. Nearly 50 percent of HIV patients experience a decrease in cognitive ability over time due to the fact that the virus attacks the human immune system, sometimes causing "chronic inflammation" in the brain, the researchers wrote.

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Kelly O'Meara Morales

Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.