A new scientific review of research on the impacts of marijuana on inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) finds that cannabinoid therapy helped reduce disease activity and improved quality of life in patients with the chronic diseases.
“This meta-analysis of clinical trials suggests that cannabinoids are associated with improved quality of life in both CD and UC,” wrote the four-doctor University of Pennsylvania team behind the new research. Notably, however, no reduction in inflammation was observed in patients who took cannabinoids, nor were any differences observed when analyzing patients’ endoscopies.
In March of this year, a separate study in the Journal of Health Research and Medical Science found that “cannabinoids show potential in improving disease activity” and quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis. Meanwhile, a study out of Australia last year found that patients with chronic health conditions saw significant improvements in overall quality of life and reductions in fatigue during the first three months of medical marijuana use.
