It is reported that 90 percent of patients who suffer from ulcerative colitis had decreased in stomach pain after using medical cannabis, after failing to see improvement when they used conventional medicines. This report, according to an Israeli Medical cannabis giant, Tikun Olam, is about to make significant impact on the globe particularly for developing countries like Ghana where cannabis cultivation is yet to commercially commence.

For many who are reading this kind of disease for the first time, Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, inflammatory colon condition similar to Crohn’s disease. When medical cannabis was first approved in Israel’s health basket more than 15 years ago, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – an umbrella term for chronic disorders, which includes ulcerative colitis – became one of the first disease types which were approved for treatment of patients with a prescription for medical cannabis.

The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was published in last February in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal. Doctors at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba tested 32 colitis patients who had all failed to respond to previously prescribed treatments. The study found that 62% of respondents saw an improvement in bowel activity, 54% saw a decrease in disease severity, and 27% experienced an increase in “life quality” when compared to the placebo group.

The study also found that patients who were treated with the Erez cannabis indica strain developed by Tikun Olam reported improved appetite and focus, increased sex drive and a decrease in pain. The study was led by Dr. Timna Naftali at Meir Medical Center’s gastroenterology ward along with Schleider.  Schleider said she chose to study the Erez strain due to its strength and its observed symptomatic compatibility with ulcerative colitis.

According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, there are currently around 10 million people who suffer from chronic digestive diseases worldwide, including about 50,000 in Israel. People who suffer from UC have several liquid bowel movements a day and are often unable to work in professions or go to areas without proper access to bathrooms.

A country like Ghana has only approved hemp for industrial and medicinal purposes. The local research and medical community is yet to make good use of cannabis to help address the needs of patients since the country is yet to start commercial cultivation of industrial hemp. The advance research role being played by Israel presents an inspiration for research institution like the Centre for Plant Medicine Research in Mampong to have a critical role in Ghana by drawing lessons from the Israeli examples.  

Credit: Jerusalem Post