THC Use Shows Positive Effects on Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
A new study titled “Cannabis Use and Endoscopic Remission in Ulcerative Colitis Therapy,” published by a group of Israeli scientists, provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of THC-rich cannabis in managing symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis. This condition is characterized by bleeding inflammation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract and stomach. The research examines the practical effects and outcomes of using cannabis flowers with high THC concentrations to modulate and treat digestive system inflammation, based on a randomized trial.
The experiment involved several dozen Israeli participants, divided into two equal groups. Over eight weeks, one group consumed natural cannabis extracts containing about 16% THC, while the other group received a placebo liquid with no psychoactive effects. Both groups continued their standard medical treatments for ulcerative colitis, regularly taking prescribed medications, which was factored into the final analysis.
“Before conducting the experiment, we performed a preliminary analysis to determine how commonly cannabis is used as a therapeutic agent among people diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or other digestive disorders with similar symptoms,” the authors note in the accompanying materials. “We found, based on both self-reports and previous private studies, that cannabinoids are frequently used for self-treatment of such conditions. Patients use them to effectively modulate tissue inflammation and related pain, as well as to manage comorbid symptoms and issues like digestive dysfunction and nausea.”
From a clinical perspective, the study’s results show that even short-term THC use led to a noticeable reduction in chronic stomach and intestinal pain, as well as overall improvement and relief in digestive processes among participants in the test group. “In addition to its high effectiveness in treating and modulating the main symptoms of the disease, THC also had a strong impact on various comorbid dysfunctions. THC use improved mood, appetite, concentration, libido, and overall subjective well-being for all members of the test group,” the study concludes.
Overall, the authors emphasize the strong and lasting therapeutic effect of THC on the direct sites of inflammatory reactions that cause ulcers in the stomach and intestines. “Regular use of THC or cannabis with high or recreational concentrations of THC significantly alleviates ulcer symptoms in the digestive system, even when accounting for the use of other medications that modulate pain and inflammation,” the study states. “Based on the available data, it appears that THC not only relieves inflammatory and pain responses associated with colitis but may also heal the direct sites of these symptoms. However, before claiming that cannabis could be more effective than pharmaceutical treatments, we recommend conducting a more detailed and extensive analysis with a larger sample of volunteers.”
Despite this caveat, the authors note that THC has a clear short-term effect on disease symptoms, with improvements becoming consistently noticeable by the end of the first week of regular medicinal cannabis use. “Within the project’s timeframe, THC did demonstrate the ability to bring the disease into remission. However, without further observation, it is difficult to predict how strong and lasting this effect may be in the long term,” the study concludes.