Does Cannabis Help Relieve IBS Pain?

Dear Stoner: Can marijuana help with IBS? I know that it can help with falling asleep or eating more, but I just want a little stomach relief without getting super stoned. Are there strains or products that do that?
Dark White Meat

Dear Dark White Meat: There are plenty of ways that cannabis could help with pain and discomfort brought on by irritable bowel syndrome, but it all depends on what you and your body prefer. Those conversations are best suited for someone with a medical degree or hands-on knowledge about the cannabis in front of you, but I will say that smoking and eating weed can help with bloating, inflammation and other pains associated with IBS. In fact, a 2016 study at New York University showed that over 90 percent of participants with inflammatory bowel disease reported improvements after using medical marijuana.

The type of strain and edible can make a difference in how your IBS responds, but worry more about a clean product source and reliable dosage numbers. If you’re new to cannabis, then you should notice whether it’s helping or not pretty quickly, and taking one small hit or edible serving at a time helps regulate intoxication.

Send questions to marijuana@westword.com.