Is Medical Cannabis Effective for Painful Chronic Pancreatitis?

A small study shows trends toward lower opioid use and fewer hospitalizations in patients using medical cannabis in conjunction with opioids.

As of this writing, cannabis use is legal in some form in 33 U.S. states, and 10 states have fully legalized it for recreational use. Yet there is a relative paucity of information on how cannabis use affects patients in specific disease states. In the current retrospective study, researchers evaluated its efficacy in managing painful chronic pancreatitis.

Fifty-three patients were included in the study, all of whom were receiving opioids to treat painful chronic pancreatitis. Thirty-four were also receiving medical cannabis through state-run therapeutic cannabis programs in New Hampshire or Vermont.

Compared with nonusers, cannabis users demonstrated better outcomes, including lower daily opioid use and fewer hospital admissions and emergenc…

Reviewing Author

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Is Medical Cannabis Effective for Painful Chronic Pancreatitis?

Topics

Reviewing Author