Components contained in marijuana protect the immune system from the human immunodeficiency virus, found researchers from the USA.

Researchers showed, that chronic use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component contained in marijuana, may protect the immune cells in gut.

Carrying out an experiment on monkeys, the researchers estimated, that THC inhibits the action of HIV in gut, thus promoting the survival of Т-cells. The article of American scientists is published in the scientific journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.

Marijuana at least slowed the progression of the disease. In the future, scientists hope to use its modification to fight the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.