# Endocannabinoid System Research: Cannabis & HIV Smoking > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-hiv-smoking-cessation/ > **Published:** 2026-03-04T11:58:50-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:11:52-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore endocannabinoid system hiv smoking cessation research and digital therapeutics tailored for people living with HIV to aid smoking cessation. --- #### Clinical Takeaway [Digital therapeutics](https://cedclinic.com/social-media-addiction-liability-cases/) tailored to people living with HIV show promising feasibility and acceptability as a scalable approach to [smoking cessation](https://cedclinic.com/nicotine-e-cigarettes-smoking-cessation-success-umass-amherst/) in this high-risk population. Tobacco use remains a leading driver of preventable illness and death among people with HIV, making accessible cessation tools a clinical priority. These pilot findings suggest that HIV-specific digital programs may improve reach and engagement compared to standard cessation platforms. ### #22 Population reach, feasibility and acceptability of digital therapeutics for smoking cessation among people living with HIV: Results of the Quitting Matters pilot trial. **Citation:** Vilardaga R et al. *Population reach, feasibility and acceptability of [digital therapeutics](https://cedclinic.com/social-media-addiction-liability-cases/) for [smoking cessation](https://cedclinic.com/nicotine-e-cigarettes-smoking-cessation-success-umass-amherst/) among people living with HIV: Results of the Quitting Matters pilot trial.* Drug and alcohol dependence. 2026. PMID: 41512654. **Study type:** Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial  |  **Topic area:** [Drug Interactions](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-liver-interactions-study-insights/)  |  **CED Score:** 10 Design: 5 Journal: 0 N: 1 Recency: 3 Pop: 2 Human: 1 Risk: -2 **Quality Gate Alerts:** - Preclinical only **Abstract:** INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use is disproportionately prevalent among people living with HIV (PWH) and is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in this population. Reaching communities of PWH to facilitate smoking cessation is challenging. Digital Therapeutics (DTx) can facilitate widespread implementation and adoption of smoking cessation treatments for PWH. METHODS: We compared the feasibility and acceptability (primary outcomes) and preliminary efficacy (secondary outcome) of a DTx tailored to PWH — Learn to Quit-HIV (LTQ-H) — versus a gold standard smoking cessation DTx (QuitGuide) in a remote pilot randomized controlled trial. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and were assessed at weeks 4, 8, and 12. RESULTS: During a 13-month period, we remotely recruited a sample of PWH (n = 41) across the United States, with randomization leading to a higher proportion of LTQ-H users with high levels of [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/). Digital markers of DTx use indicated that compared to QuitGuide, assignment to LTQ-H led to significantly greater number of device interactions (3610 vs 2086; RR=93.14; 95 % CI: 14.70-590; p < 0.001), and a four-fold increase in mean interactions with active smoking cessation content (8.5 vs. 2.15; Cohen's d=0.91; p < 0.001). At week 12, in an adjusted model, LTQ-H resulted in numerically greater, but not statistically significant, biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence versus QuitGuide (18.2 % vs 15.8 %; aOR=6.97, 95 % CI: 0.65-74.33). CONCLUSIONS: While participants assigned to LTQ-H had proportionally more features known to predict low quit rates (e.g. [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/)), LTQ-H showed promising population reach, device engagement, and smoking outcomes. A hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial will evaluate this novel DTx in a larger sample of PWH. IMPLICATIONS: The study highlights the potential of DTx to address the high prevalence of tobacco use among people with HIV. Compared to QuitGuide (gold standard DTx d  |  Further Reading CED Clinic Blog[Utilizing Cannabis to Quit Smoking](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-based-therapies-smoking-cessation/) CED Clinic Blog[Cannabis-Infused Beverages as Alcohol Alternatives: New York at Five Years](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-beverage-substitution-alcohol-new-york-five-years/) Research Digest[Daily Digest 2026-03-07](https://cedclinic.com/adolescent-cannabis-psychiatric-outcomes-2026-digest/) [View on PubMed ↗](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41512654/)[Full Text ↗](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12958050/)[DOI ↗](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.113015) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Endocannabinoid System in HIV Smoking Cessation Care](https://cedclinic.com/digital-smoking-cessation-programs-hiv-care/) Learn about the role of the [endocannabinoid system](https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-fear-extinction/) in supporting smoking cessation efforts specifically for people living with HIV. [Read More](https://cedclinic.com/digital-smoking-cessation-programs-hiv-care/) [Cannabinoid Clinical Trials: Cannabis in HIV Smoking Care](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoid-clinical-trials-hiv-smoking-cessation/) Explore clinical trial data on cannabis use for smoking cessation among people living with HIV and its therapeutic potential. [Explore Trials](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoid-clinical-trials-hiv-smoking-cessation/) [Endocannabinoid System Research: Cannabis in HIV Care](https://cedclinic.com/digital-therapeutics-hiv-smoking-cessation-research/) Review research on the endocannabinoid system's impact on cannabis use and care strategies for people living with HIV. [Discover Insights](https://cedclinic.com/digital-therapeutics-hiv-smoking-cessation-research/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [X Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Endocannabinoid%20System%20Research%3A%20Cannabis%20%26%20HIV%20Smoking&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fendocannabinoid-system-hiv-smoking-cessation%2F) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fendocannabinoid-system-hiv-smoking-cessation%2F) [Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Endocannabinoid%20System%20Research%3A%20Cannabis%20%26%20HIV%20Smoking%20https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fendocannabinoid-system-hiv-smoking-cessation%2F) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan) [Read more on Substack](https://doctorapprovedcannabis.substack.com/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/feed/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).