Medicinal marijuana has been successfully used by some as a treatment option to treat the symptoms of digestive and gastrointestinal disorders. Dr. Connor is a certified prescriber of medicinal marijuana and can help patients in Midtown East, New York, NY.
New York State Certified Prescribing of Medicinal Marijuana Q & A
What is medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana is the medicinal-grade cannabis plant, and its pure extracts used to treat a medical illness or improve a symptom. The healing properties are part of the cannabidiol (CBD) in the plant in addition to the critical levels of medical terpenes and flavonoids. Through traditional plant breeding techniques, cannabis plants are being produced which have higher levels of CBD.
What are the most common forms of disorders treated with medical marijuana?
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Spinal cord damage with intractable spasticity
- Epilepsy
- Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
- Crohn’s disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
- Lupus
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Neuropathy
- Huntington’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Must include associated or complicating conditions:
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe or chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
You may be eligible for medical marijuana if you have been diagnosed with one or more of the following severe debilitating or life threatening conditions: cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, Huntington’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain (as defined by 10 NYCRR §1004.2(a)(8)(xi)), pain that degrades health and functional capability as an alternative to opioid use or substance use disorder. The severe debilitating or life-threatening condition must also be accompanied by one or more of the following associated or complicating conditions: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe or persistent muscle spasms, PTSD or opioid use disorder.
What medical cannabis treatments are used for digestive or gastrointestinal disorders?
The effectiveness of cannabis for addressing symptoms connected to gastrointestinal disorders has been proven successful in several medical studies. Research suggests that cannabis is successful in treating the symptoms of GI disorders in part because it cooperates with the endogenous cannabinoid receptors within the person’s digestive tract. This can cause an effective result and can calm spasms, relieve pain, and improve motility. Cannabis has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory characteristics and the relaxant effects of cannabis can be responsible for the relief they provide. Cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant cannabinoid on Earth, has been shown to lessen hypermotility, swelling, and tissue damage in medical studies of GI diseases. Patients with IBD, Crohn’s disease, and other painful GI disorders have said that cannabis has eased cramping and helps modulate diarrhea, constipation, and even acid reflux with very minimal side effects. Dr. Connor will work with patients to determine how medicinal cannabis can help to treat their symptoms and get them feeling more like themselves again.