There is a promising breakthrough in research about medical marijuana and digestive disorders. It’s called clinical endocannabinoid deficiency – a leading medical theory attempting to explain many conditions like celiac and related disorders by understanding genetic flaws in the endocannabinoid system. Although not specific to celiac disease, the scope of marijuana use in medical conditions is broadening by the day.
For patients with celiac disease considering cannabis to help will have to do so alongside a strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. This is because while medical marijuana does not cure celiac disease or replace a gluten-free diet, it can help manage related symptoms. This will guide you on what you need to know.
Celiac disease is both a gastrointestinal and autoimmune health condition where your body reacts badly to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have celiac disease, and you eat gluten, your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your small intestine. This damages the intestine and makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients properly.
Because of this damage, people often experience gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, and nutrient deficiencies. Some people also get extraintestinal symptoms, like osteoporosis, anemia, weight loss, headaches, or skin issues.
Medical marijuana may help relieve pain in people with celiac disease. However, there is no conclusive evidence that shows it reduces the autoimmune inflammation caused by gluten. Therefore, while cannabis may help manage pain symptoms and reduce inflammation in other digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), its effects on celiac-induced inflammation still require study.
There is an emerging preclinical basis for understanding the relationship between celiac disease and endocannabinoid system dysfunction. This includes a genetic alteration (SNP) in the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2 or CNR2) that gives predisposition to autoimmune conditions like celiac.
There are also studies involving tissue biopsies from celiac patients showing changes in the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors. Specifically, higher levels of CB1 and CB2 mRNA and protein during the active disease phase, which return to normal when the patient is in remission. This up-regulation suggests that targeting these CB receptor sites could be a new treatment strategy for celiac disease.
Research suggests medical cannabis may help relieve symptoms in digestive disorders, particularly abdominal pain, inflammation, nausea, vomiting, and stool irregularities. In conditions like IBD (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis) and gastroparesis, patients report improved quality of life and reduced symptom severity. Mechanistic studies show cannabinoids influence gut movement, inflammation, and pain signalling, which likely underlies these effects.
However, evidence that cannabis alters the underlying disease process is limited, and objective markers of inflammation often do not improve. Overall, research supports the use of marijuana for gut health and symptom relief in digestive disorders.
READ: Digestive Disorders
A medical marijuana doctor can recommend cannabis for celiac disease relief only after confirming an accurate diagnosis and determining which symptoms such as pain, nausea, or appetite issues need relief. Since cannabis does not treat celiac disease itself, the doctor also makes sure the patient is following a strict gluten-free diet and has already tried standard symptom treatments.
If symptoms remain, the doctor may discuss cannabis as an option, reviewing the potential benefits (e.g., pain or nausea reduction, improved appetite, regular bowel movements) and possible risks before choosing the most appropriate cannabinoids and dosing based on the patient’s specific needs.
Getting a medical marijuana card online is a straightforward process, mad
e easier by platforms like Marijuana Doctors. These processes include:
Most states do not list medical marijuana for celiac disease as a qualifying condition, but patients may still qualify based on related symptoms such as chronic pain or severe nausea. A few states give doctors permission to recommend cannabis for any condition they think may benefit from it. Regardless, patients should still involve their gastroenterologist in celiac disease management.
Yes, cannabis may help relieve abdominal pain and bloating, through its interactions with the endocannabinoid system and endocannabinoidome.
Cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties, but there is no clinical evidence proving it reduces gluten-triggered autoimmune inflammation in celiac disease.
You may qualify if your symptoms such as chronic pain or nausea meet your state’s qualifying criteria or certified by a medical marijuana doctor.
Strains rich in CBD or balanced THC:CBD and those high in certain terpenes (myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, limonene) are often preferred for symptom relief.
No. Medical marijuana doctors do not prescribe cannabis. They may recommend it, and whether anxiety qualifies depends on state law.
As long as products are gluten-free, additive-free, third-party tested, and used under medical guidance, it is generally safe.
Cannabis with THC might help improve appetite, and invariably prevent further weight loss in celiac patients. However, there is no conclusive evidence on medical marijuana increasing weight.
Tinctures are generally the better option for people with gluten sensitivity, while edibles can work only if they are clearly labelled gluten-free and used cautiously.
Edibles carry sugar, caffeine, food coloring, emulsifiers, preservatives, and other artificial additives that may upset sensitive stomachs. Meanwhile, tinctures are normally additive-free and based in healthy olive, coconut, or avocado oils that soothe the gut lining and synergize with whole-plant compounds.
Yes, pain is a common qualifying condition for a medical marijuana card, but approval requires recommendation by a certified medical marijuana doctor online.
They are not required to specialize, but many have experience or cannabis-specific training.
Written by Chiagozie Ekemezie
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