Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects an estimated 700,000 Americans. The symptoms that accompany Crohn’s disease can be painful and debilitating, including problems such as stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and weight loss.
In recent years, a number of studies have shown that medical marijuana can help patients find relief from these symptoms, minimizing the impact that Crohn’s has on patients’ lives.
Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson has recently opened up about managing Crohn’s disease with medical marijuana, telling Howard Stern in a SiriusXM interview:
It helps more than you can imagine.
What is Crohn’s Disease?
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, but it triggers inflammation in the bowel that can spread throughout the intestines, causing significant discomfort and other complications. The pain and nausea caused by Crohn’s makes it difficult to eat, which can result in unhealthy weight loss and malnutrition. The condition can be irritated by stress or a poor diet, both of which are difficult to avoid while experiencing some of the common symptoms of Crohn’s.
Although there is no known cure for Crohn’s disease, patients can manage their symptoms and even achieve long-term remission with the aid of medication and therapies.
In fact, medical marijuana is proven to have significant positive effects for patients who suffer from Crohn’s disease.
How Does Medical Marijuana Help with Crohn’s Disease?
In 2011, the Israel Medical Association Journal published the first study that analyzed the effects of cannabis on managing Crohn’s disease. They found that medical marijuana had a positive effect on disease activity, reducing the need for other drugs and surgery. These effects weren’t temporary, either, as researchers concluded:
The positive effect of cannabis on disease activity in our patients was maintained for an average period of 3.1 years.
Another study, published in 2013 by Gastroenterology and Hepatology, was performed to determine if medical marijuana could induce remission. Study results showed:
Complete remission (CDAI score <150) was achieved by 5 of 11 subjects in the cannabis group (45%) and 1 of 10 in the placebo group (10%). A clinical response (decrease in CDAI score of >100) was observed in 10 of 11 subjects in the cannabis group (90%) and 4 of 10 in the placebo group (40%). Three patients in the cannabis group were weaned from steroid dependency. Subjects receiving cannabis reported improved appetite and sleep, with no significant side effects.
These findings led researchers to conclude:
A short course (8 weeks) of THC-rich cannabis produced significant clinical, steroid-free benefits to 10 of 11 patients with active Crohn’s disease, compared with placebo, without side effects.
The benefits that patients achieved with the use of medical marijuana included a reduction in inflammation, improved appetite and improved sleep patterns. It is also believed that cannabis can have an anti-diarrheal effect, further improving a patient’s quality of life.
(For more details, see: Crohn’s Disease Marijuana Research Studies.)
Pete Davidson and Medical Marijuana
Despite the efficacy of medical marijuana treatment for Crohn’s disease and other conditions, it’s rare that celebrities or other patients open up about their treatment to the public. Pete Davidson, Saturday Night Live cast member, actor and stand-up comedian, is a strong supporter of the legalization of medical marijuana, relying on it himself to manage Crohn’s disease.
In his interview with Howard Stern, Davidson described how Crohn’s affected his health:
There was a point where I couldn’t get out of bed, I was like 110 pounds.
Speaking with High Times, Davidson explained how marijuana helped stimulate his appetite and continues to help him live a normal life:
I found that the medicines that the doctors would prescribe me and seeing all these doctors and trying new things… Weed would be the only thing that would help me eat. My stomach would just be in pain all day and I wouldn’t be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to do SNL if I didn’t smoke weed, I wouldn’t be able to do anything, really.
For more outtakes, check out Davidson’s full interview:
How to Treat Crohn’s Disease with Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana can have an overwhelmingly positive effect on those who suffer from Crohn’s disease. Pete Davidson’s story resembles the stories of countless people around the country who struggle with Crohn’s disease:
Medical marijuana has made a huge difference when traditional medications and prescriptions have failed to provide relief.
CannaMD is Florida’s premier medical cannabis clinic, providing compassionate care to Florida patients though evidence-based application of medical cannabis research. We are proud to provide you with the education, resources and expertise necessary to improve your quality of life with medical marijuana.
If you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, you qualify for medical marijuana treatment in the state of Florida.