A small survey conducted in Australia revealed that 25% of people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) use cannabis to treat symptoms. Is it effective? You bet.

The study, published on April 16 in Crohn’s & Colitis (a foundation dedicated to finding the cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), has shown the vast use of medicinal cannabis is quite prevalent in patients with IBD.

Of the 838 respondents that took the anonymous online survey, 25.3% (212) noted they used cannabis to treat their symptoms. With 18.1% currently using cannabis, and 7.2% in the past.

It’s interesting to note, that of the 25.3% that use it to treat their symptoms, half of them also used it for recreational use. Cannabis treated their symptoms and improved their leisure time as well.

Amazingly, only 3 of the 212 users reported accessing cannabis through legal means (applying through the TGA for approved medicines). Here’s a breakdown of how their cannabis was acquired:

44.6% – recreational dealers

26.1% – family and friends

9.8% – growing their own cannabis

The rest likely chose not to answer the question out of fear of the survey not being truly anonymous.

With the lack of respondents accessing the cannabis legally, it’s unsurprising that most of the users were still smoking joints and doing bongs (48.7%) to feel the effects. The next form of ingestion was via an oral liquid (19.7%).

Overall, an overwhelming 92.7% of those using cannabis to treat their IBD said it was effective in managing their symptoms.

On top of symptom management, patients already using cannabis, even if they must acquire it illegally, reported an overall higher quality of life on some measures.

This small survey just goes to show that more clinical studies are required. Improved symptoms, better quality of life – is there anything more to say?

Although progress is consistently being made, access to medicinal cannabis must be further streamlined than what it currently is. As well, the high prices of weed in Australia currently put the medicine out of reach to many potential patients.

It needs to be added to the PBS and subsidised by the government.

Read the full survey here.