This article originally appeared on National Pain Report.

A first-ever long-term study testing whether medical marijuana reduces opioid use among adults with chronic pain has just been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A five-year $3.8 millions grant for the study was awarded to researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System.

The study will look at people who test positive for HIV because, according to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, this population has more chronic pain and opioid use compared to the general population. They note that between 25% and 90% of adults with HIV suffer from chronic pain, and adults with HIV are likely to receive opioids to help manage their pain. The study will also include 250 who test negatiev for HIV.

Now that 29 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of medical marijuana, many with HIV have access to medical marijuana because it is used to treat pain and to help alleviate other conditions that are prominent among adults with HIV.

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