A survey of 93 IBD patients found 54% used cannabis, with over 50% of users reporting relief from abdominal pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and nausea, and nearly 20% reporting decreased opioid use.
Gastroenterologists, IBD patients considering cannabis, and researchers designing cannabis-IBD trials.
19.4% of IBD cannabis users reported decreased opioid use
What the researchers found
53.8% of IBD patients used cannabis (vs. 45.5% controls). 86.8% of IBD patients supported medical cannabis. 63.2% believed cannabis was somewhat-to-extremely beneficial for IBD. Over 50% of cannabis-using IBD patients reported relief from abdominal pain, other pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and nausea. 19.4% reported decreased opioid use. 14.5% reported cannabis-induced remission. Crohn's patients reported more relief than UC patients for certain symptoms.
Why it matters
IBD patients increasingly use cannabis for symptom management, often without clinical guidance. This survey captures what patients actually experience, providing data that can inform clinical conversations and identify research priorities.
The numbers in context
93 IBD patients; 53.8% used cannabis; 86.8% supported medical use; 19.4% reduced opioids; 14.5% reported remission; >50% reported relief across 6 symptom categories.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional 37-question survey of 139 participants (93 IBD, 33 controls). Assessed cannabis and CBD oil usage, beliefs, symptom impact, quality of life, and opioid use.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported and uncontrolled. Small sample. Selection bias (survey respondents may over-represent cannabis users/supporters). Remission claims not verified clinically. No dose or product standardization.
How to read the evidence
Provides useful patient-reported data but uncontrolled design and small sample limit conclusions.
When this study was published
2025 survey study of IBD patient cannabis experiences.
The bigger picture
Patient-reported outcomes often diverge from clinical trial results. The high self-reported benefit rates and strong support for medical cannabis among IBD patients suggest either genuine therapeutic effects or significant placebo/expectation effects, both worth investigating.
Questions still open
- Would controlled trials confirm the symptom relief rates reported by patients?
- Is the opioid reduction finding clinically significant and replicable?
Common questions
Does cannabis help with IBD symptoms?
Can cannabis replace opioids for IBD pain?
Read the original research
Inflammatory bowel disease patients believe cannabis and cannabidiol oil relieve symptoms.
Academia medicine, 2(2)
Citation
Lala, Ayati; Rodriguez-Palacios, Alexander; Cominelli, Fabio; Basson, Abigail Raffner. (2025). Inflammatory bowel disease patients believe cannabis and cannabidiol oil relieve symptoms.. Academia medicine, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.20935/acadmed7773
Explore the wider topic
- CBD Oil Quality Guide: How to Avoid Snake Oil
- Anxiety After Quitting Weed: When to Consider Medication
- Cannabis for Chemotherapy Nausea: What the Evidence Actually Shows
- Cannabis for Chronic Pain: What the Research Actually Supports
- Cannabis and Epilepsy: The Epidiolex Story and What It Means
- Does CBD Actually Work for Anxiety? What the Evidence Shows
- Does CBD Help with Weed Withdrawal? What Studies Show
- CBD vs THC: The Differences That Actually Matter
- The Proven Medical Benefits of Cannabis: What Research Supports
- Quitting Weed Before Surgery
- Weed and Medications: What Changes When You Quit
- Quitting Weed During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
- Quitting Weed While Pregnant: What You Need to Know
- Cannabis and Older Adults: Risks Seniors Should Know
- Cannabis and Breastfeeding: THC in Breast Milk