The way in which cannabis affects the stomach has been argued over for some time. Some believe that weed is great for gut health while others believe it can cause a variety of problems. As usual, it is unlikely that the answer is either or and there are likely a lot of variants to be considered. Every stomach is different, there are a lot of strains to consider, and the diet of the smoker will likely change the outcome of smoking weed. So let’s have a look into how cannabis can affect the stomach and what this means for your tummy in particular.
There are a high number of strains that are recommended for reducing nausea or increasing appetite in patients. This happens because of something that we have discussed before, the endocannabinoid system. This is the part of our body that reacts to cannabis and causes highs, relaxation, sleep, and a variety of other effects. The receptors go through the body and many of them can be located in the digestive system. So we do know that smoking weed can directly affect digestion and gut health. We know that there are a variety of cannabis strains that are recommended to those who suffer from gut issues such as Chron’s, IBS and IBD. For sufferers of these issues, eating can be a minefield. Cannabis has been found to reduce the negative aspects of these illnesses through extensive testing and anecdotal evidence. We also know that cannabis can increase appetite which is vital to those who are suffering from chronic nausea, aggressive medicinal treatments such as chemo, and eating disorders. However, this doesn’t really tell us a lot about what cannabis does to actual gut health, just that it can be beneficial for specific medical issues.
Gut Health Negatives
Let’s start off with the negative effects that cannabis can have on stomach health. There is a good chance that at some point in our lives a few of us have whitied. If you don’t know that’s where you get much too high and throw up. Usually, this happens to people when they are younger and are still figuring out their tolerance, but it can be a constant issue for others. Unfortunately, in the long run, more severe issues than just throwing up when super high can develop. Heavy users who smoke several times a day can develop an issue known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The reason young smokers throw up is that excessive weed can cause intense nausea. Basically, this syndrome comes from the same place. Those who smoke chronically can develop a regular urge to vomit and constant nausea. The symptoms of this syndrome can be intense and even debilitating, essentially the THC can trigger regular delayed gastric release.
It is still unclear why this happens as it is not exactly a common issue and so far all of the cases are anecdotal. It is possible that many of these cases suffered previously from underlying stomach conditions. This would potentially make weed a trigger for an issue but not necessarily the cause.
There are also a few cases that claim acute pancreatitis caused by smoking weed. There are very few cases that have come up and again most of them seem to have a preexisting condition or some other part of their lifestyle that links them together. So it is possible that if you already have stomach issues or the potential for them that cannabis could cause some further issues.
Gut Health Positives
Now let’s move on to the positives which have been confirmed by several studies and tests. As we know there are a lot of stomach related conditions that cannabis seems to have a positive effect on. Issues like IBS, IBD, anorexia, fibromyalgia and Chron’s have all been successfully managed by using certain strains of cannabis. It is also known to reduce intestinal inflammation for those who suffer from regular diarrhoea. Similarly, it also reduces intestinal motility which means how fast food moves through the digestive system. This improves digestion and ensures that you are getting the most out of your food. This is great for people who suffer from celiac disease.
As we discussed earlier there are lots of endocannabinoid receptors throughout the digestive system. This is why a number of people take cannabis-based supplements if they have issues with their stomach health because it is believed to promote the formation of good bacteria. It can also relax the digestive system which reduces cramping and inflammation as well as helps to decrease the irritants that cause negative reactions to various foods.
Even if we aren’t talking about how cannabis affects the long term aspects of gut health, it can be vital for those who are struggling to eat. If you are experiencing chronic nausea or a total lack of appetite it can be almost impossible to get all the nutrients that you need. Weed triggers the cannabinoid receptors that not only reduce nausea but actively increase appetite, which is why we get the munchies. Few other medications can achieve the same effect which makes cannabis vital to those who are going through chemo, anorexia, and a variety of other treatments or illnesses.
Of course, there are a number of ways to ingest cannabis other than smoking. You also don’t need to have any high effect if you go for CBD heavy strains or CBD only supplements.
Summary
So essentially, like most things, cannabis has its ups and downs when it comes to stomach health. For certain people smoking weed can cause a whole host of stomach problems. However, the connection hasn’t necessarily been proven and as I said before there were a lot of other variables in play. These issues also only came up in chronic smokers, so as usual too much of a good thing etc. However, cannabis can also have a wide range of positive effects for those who suffer from stomach issues. Living with severe gut problems can be an absolute nightmare and weed has been proven to help alleviate these symptoms.
Written by Tasha Porritt.
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