A recent survey conducted by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney has found that a quarter of Australians with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are using cannabis to manage their symptoms. The majority of these patients are sourcing cannabis through illicit channels due to barriers in accessing legal medicinal cannabis.
Key Findings of the Study
The nationwide survey, the largest of its kind in Australia, gathered responses from 838 individuals with IBD. Key findings include:
25.3% of respondents reported using medicinal cannabis for symptom management.
Only 1.4% obtained cannabis legally through Australian government-approved pathways.
More than 90% of users reported symptom relief, particularly for abdominal pain, stress, sleep disturbances, cramping, and anxiety.
Limited benefits were observed for symptoms directly linked to disease pathology, such as rectal bleeding and stool irregularities.
Ulcerative colitis patients who used medicinal cannabis reported a higher quality of life compared to non-users.
Medicinal cannabis users exhibited lower adherence to prescribed medications and were less likely to engage with specialist care for IBD.
Minor side effects, such as drowsiness and memory impairment, were reported by some users.
Approximately 50% of medicinal cannabis users also consumed cannabis recreationally, though at a lower frequency than for medicinal purposes.
The Growing Burden of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australia
IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects around 75,000 Australians, with numbers expected to rise to 100,000 by 2022. The condition is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to weight loss, diarrhoea, bleeding, chronic pain, and anxiety, all of which significantly impact daily life.
A report from PricewaterhouseCoopers highlights that IBD is becoming more common, complex, and severe in Australia. As conventional treatment options often fail to provide complete relief, many patients are turning to alternative therapies like cannabis to manage their condition.
Cannabis as a Last Resort
The study was partly inspired by the experiences of the Taylor family from the Blue Mountains, whose daughters suffered from severe IBD. Their father, Steven Taylor, was arrested for cultivating cannabis used to alleviate their suffering when conventional treatments had failed.
"Medicinal cannabis alleviated our daughters’ suffering after all conventional treatments failed," the Taylor family stated. "The survey reflects the lived experience in the community, where families resort to unreliable products due to lack of legal access. Either the law needs to change, or there should be an amnesty for genuine medicinal users and their carers."
Calls for Greater Clinical Engagement and Research
Despite the growing use of medicinal cannabis among IBD patients, low clinical engagement remains a concern, with many patients opting for self-medication.
Researchers emphasise the need for more clinical trials and policy changes to provide safe, reliable, and affordable access to medicinal cannabis.
Dr. Melissa Benson, the study's lead author, stated, "This survey contributes to ongoing discussions about medicinal cannabis for IBD management. Clinicians must understand what their patients are already doing to self-manage their symptoms."
With increasing public support and growing evidence of its benefits, medicinal cannabis could soon play a more significant role in the treatment of IBD in Australia. However, barriers such as high costs, restrictive prescribing practices, and legal limitations continue to push many patients towards the black market for relief.
For more updates on medicinal cannabis in Australia, visit www.cannabisclubaustralia.com.au 👉 Read the full story: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/04/22/survey-shows-australians-using-cannabis-to-treat-bowel-disease.html