Earlier in 2023, Ohio Senators Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) and Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) introduced Senate Bill 9. This Bill sought to amend the medical marijuana law in the state and add multiple conditions to the list of those that qualify for use. According to Megan Henry of the Ohio Capitol Journal, the proposed new conditions include muscle spasticity or chronic muscle spasms, migraines, opioid use disorder, autism spectrum disorder, hospice care and terminal illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The State Medical Board carefully considered this proposal. This was not the first time that autism spectrum disorder was suggested; it was the fourth. However, it once again failed to be added after the State Medical Board declined. Obsessive-compulsive disorder was also rejected.
However, the State Medical Board did choose to approve irritable bowel syndrome as the 26th addition to the list. IBS joins the ranks of inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, Huntington’s disease (HD), and traumatic brain injury, among others.
Currently, only medical marijuana is legal in Ohio. There have been recent efforts made, however, to legalize recreational marijuana use. This issue will be up for vote later this year.
About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements. Only some people with IBS develop severe symptoms. While most people can manage IBS through diet and lifestyle adjustments, people with severe symptoms may require medication. Treatment may take a multivariate approach and include fiber supplements, laxatives, pain medications, antidepressants, and FDA-approved drugs such as Amitiza, Lotronex, and Xifaxan.
Doctors still do not understand the exact cause of IBS. They suspect that muscle contractions, nervous system dysregulation, early childhood stress, and gut microbe changes could play a role. Risk factors for IBS include being female, having depression or anxiety, being younger in age, and having a family history of irritable bowel syndrome.
Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating related to passing a bowel movement
- Changes in bowel movement frequency or appearance
- Increased gas or mucus in the stool
- Feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels
- Unintentional weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding
- Unexplained vomiting
