Aurora, CO–(ENEWSPF)–November 13, 2014. Cannabis holds promise as a comparatively safe and effective treatment for digestive disorders, according to a literature review published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Investigators at the University of Colorado, Aurora and at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical University in New Hampshire reviewed data in regard to the use of cannabis or cannabinoids for nausea and vomiting, appetite stimulation, abdominal pain, and inflammatory bowel disease. They reported: “It is increasingly clear that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in diverse biological pathways that affect gastrointestinal and hepatic physiology and pathology. … Although there are no studies proving the long-term safety of marijuana use, its safety profile compares favorably to other illicit substances, to legal intoxicants like alcohol, possibly to opioids, and to some existing therapies for digestive disorders.”
They concluded: “[M]arijuana … appears to hold promise as a modifier of gastrointestinal symptoms. As medical marijuana use continues to grow in the United States, physicians must take the lead in understanding the risks and benefits in order to provide accurate information to patients.”
Full text of the study, “Medical marijuana for digestive disorders: High time to prescribe?” appears in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Source: http://norml.org
