Federally Funded Study Reveals Marijuana and CBD Provide Significant Relief for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
A recent study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has found that a majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) report significant symptom relief from using marijuana and CBD. The study, conducted by researchers at Case Western Reserve University, surveyed 139 participants, including 106 IBD patients and 39 non-IBD controls, aged 18-69.
The study found that over 50% of participants who used cannabis reported it to be an effective therapeutic option, providing relief from abdominal pain, pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and nausea/vomiting. Additionally, 19.4% of IBD patients reported decreased opioid use, and 14.5% reported induced remission with cannabis or CBD oil.
The researchers noted that a significant portion of respondents with IBD self-reported using cannabis (54%) or CBD (41%) for medical use, symptom relief, pain management, and mental health support. A large proportion, 63%, of IBD participants reported that cannabis had a somewhat, very, or extremely beneficial effect in relieving their IBD symptoms, while 57% held this belief about CBD oil.
The study also found that IBD patients were more likely to use cannabis or CBD oil for short-term symptom relief (37% and 26%, respectively) compared to long-term symptom relief (23% and 18%, respectively). This suggests that these substances are considered more effective in managing acute symptoms rather than in the long-term management of the disease.
The authors concluded that the study demonstrates increasing interest and positive perceptions by IBD patients toward the use of cannabis and CBD oil as complementary or alternative therapies for symptom management. The findings highlight the common perception among IBD patients that cannabis and CBD oil are effective therapeutic agents for symptom management, despite the lack of conclusive clinical evidence.
This study is in line with previous research, which has found that cannabinoid therapy can help reduce disease activity and improve quality of life in patients with chronic diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The results suggest that marijuana and CBD may be viable options for IBD patients seeking alternative or complementary treatments for their symptoms.
