Medical Marijuana For Patients With Ulcerative Colitis In Minnesota

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that leads to inflammation and sores in the digestive tract. It impacts the inner lining of the large intestine and rectum. Symptoms usually appear gradually, and while they range from mild to moderate for most patients, they can be severe and even debilitating and life-threatening. The severity of the symptoms may vary in the same patient at different times, and some patients have long time periods of symptom-free remissions. 

 

Ulcerative colitis symptoms can include:

 

• Abdominal pain and cramping

• Diarrhea

• Urgent need to move bowels

• Inability to defecate despite urgent need to do so

• Bloody or pus-filled stool

• Rectal pain and bleeding

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Weight loss

 

While there is no cure for the disease, the symptoms can be managed to help maintain periods of remission. Unfortunately, the traditional treatment options - using medications other than medical marijuana to 1) reduce inflammation and 2) treat the symptoms - can cause an extensive number of adverse side effects, including, among others:

 

• Anxiety

• Dizziness

• Abdominal Pain

• Acne

• Appetite loss

• Infusion and Injection site reactions

• Osteoporosis

• Weight gain

• Nausea and vomiting  

 

To some sufferers, these “cures” can sometimes seem as bad as the condition, leading more and more ulcerative colitis patients to seek relief through medical marijuana.