Cash for quitting: study tests if a month without weed boosts HIV health

NCT ID NCT04866004

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether people with HIV who regularly use cannabis could stop for 28 days and whether that would improve their mood, pain, sleep, and HIV viral load. Twenty-five participants were given financial incentives to stay cannabis-free, with urine tests to confirm. The goal was to see if this approach is feasible and if it reduces inflammation and distress.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

contingency management (financial incentives for cannabis abstinence)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that stopping cannabis use for a month helps people with HIV feel less distressed and may improve their HIV control.

What could go wrong

This is a very small pilot study with only 25 participants and no comparison group, so results may not apply broadly. It only tests short-term abstinence, not long-term effects.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cannabis dependence HIV infectious disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction

    Houston, Texas, 77054, United States

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

    San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States