12% of IBD Patients Actively Used Marijuana, With Most Finding It "Very Helpful" for Pain, Nausea, and Diarrhea
Among 292 inflammatory bowel disease patients, 12.3% actively used marijuana, with chronic abdominal pain as the strongest predictor, and the majority reported it was "very helpful" for symptom relief.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A survey of 292 IBD patients at an academic medical center (94% response rate) found that 12.3% were active marijuana users, 39.0% were past users, and 48.6% had never used. Among current and past users, 16.4% used marijuana specifically for disease symptoms, with the majority rating it "very helpful" for abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
Chronic abdominal pain was the strongest predictor of both current use (OR=3.5) and medicinal use (OR=4.7). Younger age also predicted both use patterns. Notably, half of never-users expressed interest in using marijuana for abdominal pain if it were legally available.
Key Numbers
292 patients, 94% response rate. 12.3% current users. 39% past users. 16.4% used for disease symptoms. Chronic pain: OR=3.5 for current use, OR=4.7 for medicinal use. 50% of never-users interested if legal.
How They Did This
Prospective cohort survey at an academic medical center. 292 IBD patients (94% response rate). Self-reported marijuana use patterns, perceived benefits, and predictors of use. Multivariate logistic regression for predictors.
Why This Research Matters
The high response rate (94%) and the finding that patients with the most pain are most likely to use marijuana suggests genuine symptom-driven demand rather than recreational use with medical justification. The 50% interest among never-users indicates substantial unmet need for pain management in IBD.
The Bigger Picture
This study documented that IBD patients were already using marijuana for symptom management despite limited clinical evidence. The inclusion of ulcerative colitis patients is important because they were excluded from medical marijuana laws at the time, yet also reported benefit.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single academic medical center. Self-reported use and benefits. Cross-sectional design. Patients who found marijuana unhelpful may have stopped and not reported use. The survey did not distinguish between smoking, edibles, or other forms. No objective outcome measures.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would controlled trials of cannabis for IBD confirm the perceived benefits?
- ?Does cannabis address the underlying inflammation or just mask symptoms?
- ?Should medical marijuana laws include ulcerative colitis alongside Crohn's disease?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Chronic abdominal pain increased medicinal marijuana use 4.7-fold in IBD patients
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed survey with high response rate; moderate evidence for use patterns and perceived benefits.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2013. Research on cannabinoids for IBD has expanded, with some controlled trials now available.
- Original Title:
- Marijuana use patterns among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
- Published In:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases, 19(13), 2809-14 (2013)
- Authors:
- Ravikoff Allegretti, Jessica, Courtwright, Andrew, Lucci, Matthew, Korzenik, Joshua R, Levine, Jonathan
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00725
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do IBD patients use marijuana for their symptoms?
Yes. This survey found that 12.3% of IBD patients were active marijuana users, and among those who had ever used, 16.4% did so specifically for disease symptoms. The strongest predictor of use was chronic abdominal pain. Most who used it for symptoms rated it "very helpful" for pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
Does marijuana help ulcerative colitis or just Crohn's disease?
While medical marijuana laws at the time of this study often specified Crohn's disease, this survey included both Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients, and both reported benefits. The authors specifically noted that UC patients were excluded from legal protections despite reporting similar symptom relief.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00725APA
Ravikoff Allegretti, Jessica; Courtwright, Andrew; Lucci, Matthew; Korzenik, Joshua R; Levine, Jonathan. (2013). Marijuana use patterns among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.. Inflammatory bowel diseases, 19(13), 2809-14. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.MIB.0000435851.94391.37
MLA
Ravikoff Allegretti, Jessica, et al. "Marijuana use patterns among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.." Inflammatory bowel diseases, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.MIB.0000435851.94391.37
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Marijuana use patterns among patients with inflammatory bowe..." RTHC-00725. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ravikoff-2013-marijuana-use-patterns-among
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.