It’s safe to say we’ve all experienced nausea at one time or another. For most of us, it’s a temporary condition that can be treated antiemetics.

Of course, antiemetics don’t work for everyone. And for people who struggle with chronic nausea because of an illness or chemotherapy, life can feel pretty hopeless.

Fortunately, the latest research on cannabis and nausea points to marijuana as an effective treatment that bring relief in a short amount of time. Why is this?

The Interaction of Cannabis and Nausea

As we’ve discussed in past posts, every human has receptors that activate the body’s endocannabinoid system. When certain receptors are activated, it can increase or decrease specific neurotransmitters.

In the case of nausea, it’s the CB1 receptors found within the nerve known as the dorsal vagus complex. This is the nerve responsible that triggers vomiting and controls feelings of nausea. CB1 receptors also play a key role in slowing down digestion. All of these actions work together with the brain to prevent nausea.

And this isn’t just speculation. There’s a growing body of scientific evidence that backs this up. For example, a study from 2021 from the University of New Mexico found that cannabis flower and concentrates provided relief from nausea for 96% of the individuals who participated in the study. Furthermore, they disclosed a decrease in nausea severity by almost 4 points (on a scale from 0-10) within an hour of consuming it.

The Most Effective Cannabis Treatments for Nausea

While the findings show that the vast majority of patients found relief within a short amount of time, there seem to be some forms of cannabis that are more effective than others.

Cannabis flower and concentrates labeled as C. sativa or hybrid seem to provide the most effective relief. Joints appeared to provide more immediate relief than pipes of vaporizers. And products with a high THC to low CBD ratio offered the fastest relief.

Cannabis-Derived Medications

As cannabis marketing specialists, we’re overjoyed that so many states are finally legalizing marijuana. However, if you live in a state where even medical weed is still illegal, there are medications that are derived from the cannabis plant that could help.

Marinol is an FDA-approved oral capsule designed to treat cancer-related and HIV-related vomiting. Also FDA-approved, Cesamet contains synthetic cannabis and is noted for being more effective than traditional anti-nausea drugs. Though not FDA- approved, drugs like Nabiximols and Levontradol are both used for chemotherapy-related nausea and to stimulate appetite.

It should be noted that these four medications offer low to moderate benefits at best. Like so many other cannabis-related products out there, there continues to be a need for more studies and data on them. And until marijuana is not longer federally prohibited, these studies will be few and far between.

Feel Better!

We hope that you found this information on cannabis and nausea helpful for your own needs. It could be a game-changer for you.

In the meantime, keep checking back with our blog for more stories on all things cannabis in Michigan and beyond.