A new study published in the journal Academia Medicine finds that a significant number of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are turning to cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) oil to help manage symptoms that conventional medications often fail to fully address.
Researchers at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University surveyed 139 participants, including 106 diagnosed with IBD and 33 non-IBD controls, to better understand cannabis and CBD use patterns, perceived effectiveness, and attitudes toward these therapies. The findings offer one of the most detailed looks to date at how IBD patients are integrating cannabinoids into their care.
According to the study, 54% of IBD patients had used cannabis and 41% had used CBD oil. Most believed the substances provided at least some benefit in managing abdominal pain, nausea, anxiety, stress, and depression. For cannabis users, reported benefits were particularly strong, with over 70% saying it helped relieve stress, and 57% noting a reduction in abdominal pain. Crohn’s disease patients reported significantly more symptom relief than those with ulcerative colitis, especially for pain, anxiety, and depression.
More than 86% of IBD patients supported the use of cannabis and CBD oil for medical purposes. This level of support was comparable to attitudes toward more conventional treatments like corticosteroids and biologics. Interestingly, 34% of IBD participants said cannabis or CBD use led to reduced opioid consumption or even induced remission of their disease. Only 3% reported worsening symptoms or increased opioid use.
Most participants began using cannabis or CBD oil between the ages of 18 and 30, and a wide variety of consumption methods were reported, including edibles, oils, smoking, tinctures, and sprays. The primary motives for cannabis use among IBD patients were recreational (69%), pain relief (44%), and symptom relief (37%). CBD oil use was more closely associated with pain management and emotional wellbeing, particularly relief from stress and anxiety.
Cannabis and CBD oil were generally perceived as more effective for short-term symptom relief rather than long-term disease management. Still, nearly two-thirds of IBD patients viewed cannabis as “somewhat” to “extremely” beneficial for managing their condition, and more than half said the same about CBD oil.
Despite its limitations—including a modest sample size and reliance on self-reported data—the study paints a compelling picture of how IBD patients view cannabinoids as valuable tools in managing their condition. The authors note that the perceived benefits of cannabis often rival those of standard IBD treatments, and they call for larger, controlled clinical trials to validate patient experiences.
With growing patient interest and anecdotal success, cannabis and CBD oil are increasingly seen as promising complementary therapies in the treatment of IBD. This study highlights the need to bridge the gap between clinical research and patient-reported outcomes, and suggests that cannabinoids could one day become a more formally recognized part of IBD care.
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