Marijuana treats Crohn’s Disease, researchers conclude

Pot treats the painful, widespread Inflammatory Bowel Disease known as Crohn’s Disease, researchers say, and bigger studies need to be done to see just how useful marijuana is.
The journal Pharmacology published a new paper titled ‘Cannabis Finds Its Way into Treatment of Crohn’s Disease’ wherein researchers state that, “in agreement with the ancient use of cannabis in intestinal disturbances and one decade of animal research, cannabis was shown in a clinical trial to reduce symptoms in patients with Crohn’s disease.”
The 2014 paper endorses a groundbreaking, but small study in 2013 that showed that pot caused a “complete remission” of Crohn’s Disease with no side effects.
Now, Schicho R.a and Storr M. from the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at the Medical University of Graz, Austria reviewed that study, concluding that “it has been shown what has been largely anticipated from anecdotal reports, i.e. that cannabis produces significant clinical benefits in patients with Crohn’s disease.”
The researchers don’t know they exact reasons why, but all evidence points to molecules in pot affecting cells in the gut and brain to stop inflammation and lessen sensations of pain and nausea.

Pot treats Crohn’s symptoms of pain, nausea, vomiting, anemia, and arthritis at the cellular level (Pharmacology)

More and more clinicians are calling for “larger trials confirming these results”, which could point the way to the future of treating IBD.
However, cannabis remains federally classified as “marijuana” — a schedule 1 drug considered to have no medical benefit and high potential for abuse. The federal government prevents researchers from studying the plant if they seek to find any medical benefit in it.