Can Medical Marijuana Treat Celiac Disease?
These days, it seems like gluten is almost everywhere. If you have celiac disease, you may be asking, “How can I deal with this?”
One answer you may not have considered is medical marijuana. In this article, we tackle how medical marijuana can help your celiac disease.
Firstly, if you have Celiac Disease, you know that Celiac disease occurs when an individual has a sensitivity to gluten; a protein found in barley, wheat, and oats. Moreover, this sensitivity creates an immune reaction that can damage the small intestine overtime, and eventually lead to symptoms including but not limited to:
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
- Malabsorption of nutrients (which can affect development and growth of children)
- Bloating
There is no known cure for celiac disease, but sticking to a gluten-free diet is enough to manage symptoms for many individuals. Avoiding gluten completely can also reverse damage to the small intestines caused by celiac disease.
The Medical Marijuana - Celiac Disease Relationship
You may be wondering, can marijuana help celiac disease?
Currently, there is no medical evidence that suggests medical marijuana can cure celiac disease. However, there are several symptoms that medical marijuana may help, specifically indica strains which can relieve stomach pain and ease digestion in inflammatory bowel disease. These symptoms include:
- Abdominal/stomach pain
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Headaches
People with celiac disease can also experience weight loss. Medical marijuana has proven effective at stimulating appetite (aka the munchies) and therefore helping with weight gain.
Furthermore, research also shows us that people with untreated celiac disease contain more cannabinoid receptors in their stomach lining (specifically the duodenal mucosa) relative to those who are on a strict gluten-free diet.
Medical cannabis may help reduce inflammation of this section of the small intestine, and relieve symptoms of celiac disease in people not on a gluten-free diet. There is also anecdotal evidence supporting this, with some individuals going so far as to say that they are celiac disease-free thanks to medical marijuana.
CBD for Celiac Disease
CBD offers an effective alternative for people who don’t wish to smoke medical marijuana or experience its psychoactive effects, but want to take advantage of the benefits.
Specifically, the use of CBD oil is a common and recommended form for relief of symptoms from various conditions. When used sublingually (placed under the tongue), it not only absorbs into the bloodstream faster but is also protected from the degradation that can be caused by acids in the digestive tract.
However, to get access to all these products, a lot of people ask, can I get medical marijuana for celiac disease? Read on for the answer.
Can I Get Medical Marijuana / a Medical Marijuana Card for Celiac Disease?
At the time of this writing, not every state has legalized medical marijuana. Additionally, no state currently recognizes celiac disease as an approved diagnosis that may qualify you for a medical marijuana card.
However, many doctors prescribe medical marijuana for relief of nausea and chronic pain; two symptoms sometimes associated with celiac disease. Given this information, it may be worth discussing with your doctor.
If you would like to get approved for a MMJ card in the state of Colorado and are undergoing these symptoms, consider booking medical card appointment with one of our state licensed medical marijuana doctors.
