Medical Marijuana for Digestive Disorders: Time to Prescribe?
Medical Marijuana for Digestive Disorders: Time to Prescribe?
The use of recreational and medical marijuana is increasingly accepted by the general public in the United States. Along with growing interest in marijuana use has come an understanding of marijuana's effects on normal physiology and disease, primarily through elucidation of the human endocannabinoid system. Scientific inquiry into this system has indicated potential roles for marijuana in the modulation of gastrointestinal symptoms and disease. Some patients with gastrointestinal disorders already turn to marijuana for symptomatic relief, often without a clear understanding of the risks and benefits of marijuana for their condition. Unfortunately, that lack of understanding is shared by health-care providers. Marijuana's federal legal status as a Schedule I controlled substance has limited clinical investigation of its effects. There are also potential legal ramifications for physicians who provide recommendations for marijuana for their patients. Despite these constraints, as an increasing number of patients consider marijuana as a potential therapy for their digestive disorders, health-care providers will be asked to discuss the issues surrounding medical marijuana with their patients.
Archaeological records indicate that marijuana, also known as cannabis, has been cultivated and used for its psychoactive and medicinal properties for over 2700 years. With the Controlled Substances Act of 1971, however, marijuana was classified in the United States as a Schedule I substance with no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse, similar to heroin. Despite federal prohibition, the use of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes continues to increase. Following the 2013 election cycle, medical marijuana programs exist in 21 states as well as Washington DC. Furthermore, the recreational use of marijuana was legalized in both Colorado and the state of Washington in 2012 and it has been decriminalized in 15 additional states (Figure 1). With these developments, medical professionals who care for patients with digestive disorders are increasingly faced with questions about the therapeutic role of marijuana and, in some cases, are asked to provide documentation to support a request for medical marijuana. This brief review is intended to help inform those discussions.
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Figure 1.
State-level marijuana regulation status.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
The use of recreational and medical marijuana is increasingly accepted by the general public in the United States. Along with growing interest in marijuana use has come an understanding of marijuana's effects on normal physiology and disease, primarily through elucidation of the human endocannabinoid system. Scientific inquiry into this system has indicated potential roles for marijuana in the modulation of gastrointestinal symptoms and disease. Some patients with gastrointestinal disorders already turn to marijuana for symptomatic relief, often without a clear understanding of the risks and benefits of marijuana for their condition. Unfortunately, that lack of understanding is shared by health-care providers. Marijuana's federal legal status as a Schedule I controlled substance has limited clinical investigation of its effects. There are also potential legal ramifications for physicians who provide recommendations for marijuana for their patients. Despite these constraints, as an increasing number of patients consider marijuana as a potential therapy for their digestive disorders, health-care providers will be asked to discuss the issues surrounding medical marijuana with their patients.
Introduction
Archaeological records indicate that marijuana, also known as cannabis, has been cultivated and used for its psychoactive and medicinal properties for over 2700 years. With the Controlled Substances Act of 1971, however, marijuana was classified in the United States as a Schedule I substance with no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse, similar to heroin. Despite federal prohibition, the use of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes continues to increase. Following the 2013 election cycle, medical marijuana programs exist in 21 states as well as Washington DC. Furthermore, the recreational use of marijuana was legalized in both Colorado and the state of Washington in 2012 and it has been decriminalized in 15 additional states (Figure 1). With these developments, medical professionals who care for patients with digestive disorders are increasingly faced with questions about the therapeutic role of marijuana and, in some cases, are asked to provide documentation to support a request for medical marijuana. This brief review is intended to help inform those discussions.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 1.
State-level marijuana regulation status.