Medical Cannabis For IBD: Tips for New Users

Yesterday my podcast episode with Rebecca Raphael from Curio Wellness dropped. We chatted about using cannabis to help with GI symptoms (you can listen to it here). When I first got my medical marijuana card and walked into a dispensary I had absolutely no clue what to look for or what to ask. Over time I had conversations with my doctors and professionals who are knowledgeable about medical marijuana and got a lot more comfortable with the topic. 

I wanted to pass along some tips for those of you who may be interested in utilizing medical cannabis. As always, please remember that I am not a medical professional so please do not take this as medical advice. Always consult with your provider before starting a new supplement or treatment. This disclaimer leads right into my first tip.

1. Talk to your doctor.

From my conversations with various GI providers about medical marijuana, the biggest take away is talk to them about it! They are not judging you and they genuinely want to know for important reasons. Just like any other herbal supplement it’s important to share with your provider so they can check for any potential interactions and track your symptoms. Also, providers can get a better idea of the impact of the other medications you are taking. For example, if an IBD patient is using medical cannabis and seeing symptom improvement, but not telling their provider this could cause confusion. The provider may attribute symptom improvement to another treatment they are on as opposed to the medical cannabis. It is important for providers to have a full picture of what you are doing to treat your symptoms so they can best advise and treat you. Just some of my own words of advice here: if you feel judged or shamed by your provider, it may be time to find a new one!

2. Find a reputable dispensary and ask them questions. That’s what they’re there for!

Dispensary staff are incredibly knowledgeable and many have a genuine passion for teaching others about cannabis. They are there to advise you on which products will meet your needs and can walk you through many different options. Especially when you are first starting out it can be hard to decipher the difference between strains, cannabinoids, terpenes, etc. (Rebecca Raphael from Curio Wellness does a great job breaking that down on this episode of the podcast.) They can make sure you get the best product for what you are looking for and the best consumption method for your situation. 

3. Start slow - ease into it

If you are just starting out, don’t overdo it. There are many low dose cannabis products that can give you the desired effects without any impairment. The issue new users run into sometimes is forgetting that it can take a bit for the effects to kick in. If you are ingesting cannabis products or using them sublingually, they can take even up to two hours to really start working. If a patient is not aware of this, they may think their original dose is not working and consume more. This could cause them to feel unwanted effects like impairment. Cannabis dosing is different for everyone so start small and see what works for you. Just because your friend takes one amount doesn’t mean you will need the same dose. 

4. Don’t be afraid to try different products

There are many different products on the market and an ever increasing number of new ones to try. Don’t be afraid to try a new product to see if it works for you. Your dispensary can help guide you as to which products are similar to ones you already use or which ones you may like. You may discover new product lines or symptom specific products that you didn’t know about before. Some, not all, dispensaries have refund or exchange policies to help offset the financial risk of trying a new product. Ask about this to see what your dispensary offers.

5. Keep an eye out for new research

As cannabis grows in popularity and becomes legal in more areas the research will continue to increase. There are many professionals dedicated to providing evidence based research on cannabis and are working hard to do so. Keeping up with the latest in cannabis news and research can alert you to new findings that may impact your use. 

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