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.

The research, published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, evaluated eight total studies, including four into Crohn’s, three into ulcerative colitis and one study of both diseases.

“Among 5 studies of CD, a statistically significant decrease in clinical disease activity following intervention was observed,” an abstract of the new review says. “Clinical disease activity in UC was not significantly lower in the pooled analysis. Improvement in quality of life (QoL) was observed in both CD and UC combined, as well as individually.”

Check out our meta analysis on the therapeutic impact of cannabis in IBD! Take away: cannabis improves quality of life in IBD but not endoscopic activity or inflammation. @ChrisSchmoyerMD Dr. Alexandra Weiss @JamesLewisGIEpi https://t.co/RAk2HgRflc

— Hansol Kang (@HansolKang23) September 3, 2024

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.

“Patients experiencing anxiety, depression, or chronic pain also improved in those outcomes over 3 months,” that study found.

Findings of another study last year that examined marijuana’s neurocognitive effects “suggest that prescribed medical cannabis may have minimal acute impact on cognitive function among patients with chronic health conditions”—could be a relief to long-term cannabis patients who are concerned about potential neurological drawbacks of the drug.

Yet another study last year, published by the American Medical Association, found that the use of medical marijuana was associated with “significant improvements” in quality of life for people with chronic conditions like pain and insomnia—and those effects were “largely sustained” over time.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.