“All disease begins in the gut.”
The Greek physician Hippocrates made that diagnosis some 2,500 years ago. In traditional Chinese medicine, an imbalance of stomach chi is thought to evoke emotions such as anxiety and stress. “Ganga” (also known as marijuana) is considered a sacred herb in the Rastafarian religion, used to heal the body and soothe the mind.
Recent research on cannabis and the human digestive system supports all three of these beliefs. It’s now known that the digestive system plays a major role in health and disease. Evidence also reveals a unique connection between food and thought, known as the gut-brain axis, and confirms that marijuana can influence digestive health to create therapeutic benefits for certain gut-related diseases.
Before getting into the specifics of these findings, we’ll start with a short detour into human physiology that is light on technical terms but chock-full of reference links for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the research.
Gut Health Is Medicine’s New Frontier
There are more than 400 types of bacteria. living in your intestines. But that’s not a bad thing, because these gut microflora turn food into life-giving energy. The discovery of these gut bacteria dates back to the 1840s, and studies on how microbes aid digestion and influence human health were underway by the mid-20th century. But it wasn’t until the early 2000s that new research revealed the full scope and importance of the tiny organisms found in the human digestive system.
The Human Microbiome Project is the cornerstone for modern gut microbial research. Released in 2007, this study identified more than 200 species of bacteria found in the human digestive system and provided new insights into the roles these microorganisms play in human health.
Cannabis & The Brain-Gut Connection
Research confirms what healing traditions and medical science have long asserted: that there is a direct two-way link between the brain and the digestive system, and that their roles in human health and disease are intricately intertwined. This connection is known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
The gut-brain axis regulates and balances everything from metabolism and nutrition to the immune system and mental health. When things go wrong in the stomach, it can trigger depression and anxiety, while worry can have a similar impact on stomach health.
This mind-gut cross-talk links the brain to the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is a neural network located in the gastrointestinal tract. The ENS controls digestion and elimination, and is sometimes referred to as the “second brain.” When scientists started investigating the ENS, they made an interesting discovery: it is lined with cannabinoid receptors, and marijuana can activate these receptors.
Marijuana has a unique ability to influence human physiology by tapping into the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. This activates CB1 and CB2 receptors that are involved in regulating the metabolic process, controlling inflammation, and boosting immune responses.
CB1 and CB2 receptors are abundant in the intestinal tract, where they play different roles. CB1 receptors regulate the intestinal muscles that move food through the digestive tract. CB2 receptors help maintain a healthy balance of gut microflora and combat damaging inflammation. They may also help improve the digestive process.
Cannabinoids Promote Gut Health & Control Inflammation
The digestive system is involved in a delicate microbial balancing act. It must nurture beneficial bacterial growth while suppressing the spread of bad bacteria. If the suppression is too weak, invading pathogens can wreak havoc. But if the immune system overreacts, it can trigger an autoimmune response that leads to chronic inflammation and disease.
The body’s natural cannabinoids activate CB1 and CB2 receptors embedded in the walls of the intestines to help maintain a healthy bacterial balance. Cannabinoids found in medical marijuana can activate these same receptors to help protect against colonic inflammation and boost the body’s immune response to disease.
THC Fights Bad Gut Bacteria
Cannabis is known to provide broad anti-bacterial effects and can fight many types of pharmaceutical-resistant staph bacteria. Laboratory research shows that five of the major cannabinoids found in marijuana (THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC) possess potent activity against drug-resistant staphylococcus bacteria, including strains that cause food poisoning.
Research from the University of South Carolina shows that THC boosted the antibacterial actions of gut and lung microbes to combat the staph bacteria responsible for a deadly condition known as ARDS. This disease reduces blood oxygen and usually afflicts persons who are already sick or seriously injured.
Cannabinoids for IBS & Crohn’s Disease
CannaMD has reported on medical marijuana’s therapeutic potential for digestive system disorders. It can provide pain relief from the cramping, bloating, pain, and pressure associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Cannabis also offers stress-relieving properties that help reduce the likelihood of developing IBS.
Medicinal cannabis can provide even greater benefits for those suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Information shared by CannaMD showed that patients with Crohn’s disease who consumed cannabis had less pain, decreased their use of pharmaceutical products, and experienced an improved quality of life. It was also reported that medical marijuana may cause Crohn’s disease remission, and that nearly 90% of patients using cannabis to treat IBD would recommend cannabis to others suffering from similar conditions.
Does Cannabis Cause Constipation?
THC reduces gut motility, which is the medical term for slowing down the movement of food through the digestive tract. But slower isn’t the same as stopping, and sometimes it can be a good thing. For instance, a dose of synthetic cannabinoid reduced the onset of diarrhea in mice. Similar laboratory research found that cannabis-induced slowing of the digestive process was a short-term effect and did not increase the total time span between eating and elimination.
A large-scale survey of adults aged 20 to 59 found that cannabis users were 30% less likely to suffer from constipation than non-users and former cannabis users. An explanation for this enhanced bowel performance was provided by the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, which reported that cannabis may strengthen certain stomach and intestinal muscles involved in the digestion and elimination process.
Cannabis Helps with Nausea & Vomiting
Cannabis interacts with CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the digestive system to provide relief from violent stomach contractions. It is known to lessen the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting experienced by cancer patients. CannaMD has noted that in some cases cannabinoids were found to be more effective than pharmaceuticals for treating the discomforts of chemotherapy.
Beyond cancer therapies, marijuana may have broader applications for controlling nausea. Some of the most interesting research on the subject comes from a study at the University of New Mexico. Volunteers used a mobile app to report on how quickly and effectively cannabis provided relief from symptoms of nausea. A university news release summarized the results based on more than 2,200 reports from 886 cannabis users, noting that:
- 96% of participants experienced nausea relief within one hour of consuming cannabis
- Products labeled as Cannabis sativa and “hybrid” outperformed products labeled as Cannabis indica
- Among combusted products, joints were associated with greater symptom relief than consuming via a pipe or vaporizer
- THC products provided greater symptom relief that CBD products
Risks of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CNS) (CNS) is a rare but serious gastrointestinal disorder that afflicts some frequent and long-term cannabis users. It is thought to be caused by THC’s continued over-stimulation of CB1 receptors within the enteric nervous system. Symptoms include recurring bouts of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Emergency rooms are seeing an increase in cases of CHS, which is thought to be linked to the increasing availability of legal high-potency recreational marijuana.
Despite this rise in cases, the overall risk of developing CHS remains low for the majority of cannabis users. Speaking to the Society of Hospital Medicine, Dr. Kelsey Berry indicated that the risk for all cannabis bis users was around 1 in 1,000 (.1%), with the condition being more prevalent among adults aged 18 to 39 years. She also indicated that individuals suffering from cannabis use disorder have much higher risks of developing CHS. Other sources have suggested that lifestyle and genetics may also play a role in the risk of developing CHS.
Edible THC Prevents Weight Gain in Mice
The glut-altering effects of THC may include weight control. Numerous surveys have confirmed that cannabis users have lower body mass indexes (BMI) and obesity rates than the general population.
Recent research from Israel indicates that THC may be responsible for this phenomenon. In a laboratory setting, mice consuming a high-fat diet were given a daily dose of THC or CBD for a ten-week period. While the CBD treatment didn’t stop weight gain, THC prevented kept the weight off while also improving glucose tolerance, reducing fat buildup in the liver, and decreasing the size and activity of fat cells associated with obesity. The researchers concluded that the prolonged oral consumption of THC, but not of CBD, ameliorates (improves) diet-induced obesity and metabolic parameters, possibly through a mechanism of adipose tissue adaptation.
CBD Boosts Good Bacteria to Increase Exercise Endurance
In the spring of 2025, a Korean research team released a study showing that CBD boosted intestinal levels of the “good bacteria” that combat obesity, protect against gastrointestinal distress, and boost the immune system.
A less-expected result of their research was the discovery that CBD dosing could have positive effects on muscle development and athletic performance.
Mice fed a daily diet of CBD (30 mg/kg/day) for four weeks showed elevated levels of two key intestinal bacteria that help muscles use energy more efficiently. The research showed that CBD treatments increased cellular oxidative capacity, which is a key measure of muscle efficiency, while also promoting the development of the “slow-twitch” muscle fibers that are activated during aerobic exercises such as longer runs.
These changes in muscle composition produced real-world results in endurance exercise performance tests. Compared to a control group, the study’s CBD-fed mice were able to run longer distances before the onset of exhaustion and showed no changes in body weight or food intake over the course of the experiment.
Medical Cannabis for Intestinal Disorders
The State of Florida currently recognizes Crohn’s disease as a qualifying condition for obtaining a medical marijuana card. Additional related conditions that may qualify include ulcerative colitis, gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and nausea.
If you are looking for information on cannabis therapies, CannaMD‘s state-certified network of medical marijuana doctors is here to answer questions and provide advice. Contact the CannaMD team at (855) 420-9170 today. Ready to get your card and purchase legal cannabis products? You can reach us at (855) 420-9170 or schedule an appointment online.
