Impact of Cannabis Use on Inpatient Inflammatory Bowel Disease Outcomes in 2 States Legalizing Recreational Cannabis

Background We evaluated the impact of recreational cannabis legalization on use and inpatient outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods Hospitalized adult patients in Colorado and Washington before (2011) and after (2015) recreational cannabis legalization were compared by chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Multivariable regression models adjusting for demographic data were fit to assess the association of cannabis use with hospital outcomes. Results Reported cannabis use increased after legalization (1.2% vs. 4.2%, p<0.001). On multivariable analysis, in 2011, cannabis users were less likely to need total parenteral nutrition (TPN, OR 0.12, p=0.038), and in 2015 had less hospital charges ($-8418, p=0.024). Conclusions The impact of cannabis legalization and use on IBD is difficult to analyze but may have implications on inpatient IBD outcomes as described in this retrospective analysis. Large, prospective studies are needed to evaluate other IBD outcomes based on cannabis legalization and use.