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4 Questions About Constipation and Recreational Marijuana Use
Understanding of the impact of recreational marijuana use on bowel motility is limited.
A new study by Adeyinka Adejumo, MD, a resident at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Massachusetts, and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, investigated the effect of recreational marijuana use on self-reported bowel function among a large cohort of adults in the United States.
The results showed that recent recreational marijuana use was associated with a decreased risk of constipation.
Gastroenterology Consultant caught up with Dr Adejumo about the research, which was presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2019.
Gastroenterology Consultant: What prompted you to conduct the study?
Adeyinka Adejumo: Marijuana is a prevailing substance used in the United States. Current estimates project that over half of all Americans have used marijuana once in their lifetime, of which 8% are active users. Since marijuana is the most used substance among teenagers and adults, it is projected to be the most used substance by the time their generation progresses to middle age and older age. Unfortunately, the health effects of marijuana are unknown, especially the impact of marijuana on constipation, which affects over 12% of Americans. We performed this study to understand the relationship between marijuana use and constipation.
Clinical implications >>
Understanding of the impact of recreational marijuana use on bowel motility is limited.
A new study by Adeyinka Adejumo, MD, a resident at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Massachusetts, and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, investigated the effect of recreational marijuana use on self-reported bowel function among a large cohort of adults in the United States.
The results showed that recent recreational marijuana use was associated with a decreased risk of constipation.
Gastroenterology Consultant caught up with Dr Adejumo about the research, which was presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2019.
Gastroenterology Consultant: What prompted you to conduct the study?
Adeyinka Adejumo: Marijuana is a prevailing substance used in the United States. Current estimates project that over half of all Americans have used marijuana once in their lifetime, of which 8% are active users. Since marijuana is the most used substance among teenagers and adults, it is projected to be the most used substance by the time their generation progresses to middle age and older age. Unfortunately, the health effects of marijuana are unknown, especially the impact of marijuana on constipation, which affects over 12% of Americans. We performed this study to understand the relationship between marijuana use and constipation.
