Does Weed Make You Poop More? How Marijuana Impacts Bowel Movements

Does Weed Make You Poop More? Examining the Effects of Marijuana on Digestion

Marijuana use is becoming increasingly common as more places legalize both medical and recreational cannabis. With wider acceptance and availability, more people are using marijuana for various reasons from chronic pain relief to reducing anxiety. But one unexpected side effect of marijuana use that new users often report is its tendency to stimulate bowel movements and increase pooping frequency.

For those using cannabis to ease digestive troubles like constipation, this laxative-like effect can be a welcome benefit. But for others, having to poop more after smoking weed may be an annoying or confusing reaction.

So what causes weed to make some users have to poop more often? Does marijuana use genuinely affect digestion and bowel habits for better or worse? Or is the link between cannabis and increased pooping just a myth?

How Cannabis Affects the Digestive System

To understand why weed makes some people poop more, it helps to first look at how cannabis interacts with the gastrointestinal system. Marijuana contains various active compounds, but there are two main ones linked to its effects on digestion:

• THC - The main psychoactive compound in marijuana responsible for the "high." THC interacts with cannabinoid receptors found all over the body, including in the digestive tract.
• CBD - The non-psychoactive medicinal compound in cannabis that also interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the GI system.

Research shows that THC and CBD impact gut motility and gastric secretion in the intestines. They may also alter gut permeability, influencing how compounds are absorbed from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.

Additionally, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates key GI processes like appetite, nausea, inflammation, and stomach acid secretion. The ECS has cannabinoid receptors in the intestines, stomach, and colon. When you consume cannabis, the cannabinoids THC and CBD can modulate this system and influence digestive functions.

Does Weed Make You Poop by Stimulating Gastric Motility?

One way cannabis may make some users poop more is by increasing gastric motility - the contractions that move food through the GI tract. The cannabinoids in marijuana can activate cannabinoid receptors in the intestines, speeding up motility to move stuff faster through the bowels until it's pooped out.

In this way, weed may act similarly to laxatives or other bowel-stimulating agents. Increased motility induced by cannabis can facilitate more regular pooping for constipated individuals. However, too much motility stimulation can lead to diarrhea, intestinal cramps, and other unwanted effects.

The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Cannabis-Induced Bowel Movements

Another mechanism researchers have identified involves the vagus nerve - the long nerve connecting the gut to the brain. THC activation of cannabinoid receptors in the stomach and intestines triggers signaling along the vagus nerve up to the brainstem.

This gut-brain communication then leads downstream nervous system effects that can alter digestion and bowel habits. Specifically, vagus nerve activation initiates defecation reflexes that stimulate pooping. So in this way, THC's influence on the vagus nerve can make some cannabis users feel an urge to poop.

Does Weed Make You Poop by Relieving Constipation?

For those using marijuana to relieve chronic constipation, the laxative effects often come as a major advantage. THC mimics the body's endocannabinoids that regulate bowel function, helping get things moving again.

Cannabis use may help ease constipation through:

• Increasing gastric motility
• Activating defecation reflexes
• Reducing gut inflammation
• Alleviating gastrointestinal pain and cramping

For individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, cannabis offers further digestive relief. The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabinoids like CBD can calm gastrointestinal inflammation that often contributes to constipation with these conditions.

Does Weed Make You Poop Less If You Develop Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?

While most cases of increased bowel movements with weed are temporary, longer-term cannabis use can sometimes have the opposite effect - causing constipation instead. This may occur with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

This rare condition affects some regular, heavy marijuana users after months or years of prolonged use. It's characterized by cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain followed by periods of recovery.

The vomiting and nausea make it difficult to eat during episodes, while abdominal discomfort discourages bowel movements. As a result, chronic cannabinoid hyperemesis can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and constipation between episodes.

Researchers don't entirely understand what causes cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. It may stem from overstimulation of the stomach and intestinal lining's cannabinoid receptors by heavy, frequent use. Thankfully, discontinuing cannabis use helps resolve symptoms in nearly all cases.

Other Potential Effects of Marijuana on Bowel Habits

Aside from increased pooping frequency, cannabis may impact digestion and bowel movements in other ways as well. Some additional effects reported include:

• Loose, watery stools from too much gastric stimulation
• Enhanced appetite and food intake, affecting poop volume/frequency
• Altered gut permeability and absorption of nutrients
• Reduced inflammation of the colon, helping resolve inflammatory bowel diseases
• Decreased intestinal propulsion and motivation to poop with chronic, heavy use

Does CBD Oil Make You Poop?

CBD oil supplements have also grown in popularity for digestive and bowel issues. But does CBD have the same poop-inducing effect as marijuana use?

In general, CBD appears less likely to cause diarrhea or laxative-type effects than THC. In studies, CBD demonstrates motility-reducing properties. So rather than make you poop more, it may actually help moderate and regulate bowel movements.

However, most commercial CBD oils contain some THC in addition to CBD. Full-spectrum CBD extracts derived from marijuana plants can include significant THC levels. The THC content may be enough to provoke pooping in some CBD users, especially with higher doses.

Tips for Managing Marijuana-Induced Bowel Changes

For most cannabis users, increased bowel movements and pooping aren't major issues and tend to resolve once the body adapts. But if you find the laxative effects unpleasant or excessive, there are some tips that can help:

• Lower dosage - Try reducing your marijuana intake to see if smaller amounts mitigate the poop response.
• Change method - Smoking and vaping may provoke more intestinal effects than edibles, oils, or other methods.
• Avoid irritants - Spicy foods, coffee, sugary items may further stimulate bowels when combined with cannabis.
• Stay hydrated - Drink enough non-caffeinated fluids to avoid dehydration from fluid losses.
• Add fiber - Soluble fiber supplements can help solidify loose stools.
• Discuss medications - OTC anti-diarrheals may help for occasional, severe episodes.

Keep in mind, frequent or persistent diarrhea, constipation, or other extreme bowel changes should be evaluated by a doctor. They may indicate an underlying gastrointestinal disorder or side effects from chronic heavy marijuana use.

Key Takeaways on Marijuana and Poop

• Marijuana impacts digestion through the enteric endocannabinoid system and gut-brain vagus nerve activation.
• THC more than CBD stimulates motility, defecation reflexes, and pooping urge.
• For constipation sufferers, this laxative-like effect may help ease symptoms.
• But for some users, excess bowel stimulation causes undesirable diarrhea.
• Long-term, heavy marijuana use may also cause cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome resulting in constipation.
• Adjusting dosage, method, diet, hydration, and medications can help manage unwanted bowel effects from cannabis.

The Bottom Line

Marijuana use can influence digestion and bowel habits in various ways. The interaction between the active compounds THC, CBD, and the enteric cannabinoid system often increases gastric motility and bowel movements temporarily. For most users, this effect is well-tolerated and subsides with continued use. But for some, excessive intestinal stimulation from cannabis can lead to diarrhea, while long-term use may eventually cause constipation instead.

Those using cannabis to ease digestive troubles like constipation often welcome the initial laxative-like effects. However, more research is still needed on the complex effects of different cannabinoids on intestinal function. Modifying dosage, method, diet, fluid intake, and using medications can help manage unwanted bowel side effects from marijuana.

So does weed make you poop more? For many users, the answer is yes - at least for the first few times until the body adapts. With careful use, cannabis can be a helpful supplement to relieve constipation. But it may take some trial and error to find the sweet spot where any bowel-stimulating effects are minimized for you.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.