Priming lymphocyte responsiveness and differential T cell signaling in pediatric IBD patients with Cannabis use

Abstract The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased dramatically in recent years, particularly in pediatric populations. Successful remission with current therapies is limited and often transient, leading patients to seek alternative therapies for symptom relief, including the use of medical marijuana (Cannabis sativa). However, chronic cannabis use among IBD patients is associated with increased risk for surgical interventions. Therefore, determining the direct impact of cannabis use on immune modulation in IBD patients is of critical importance. Peripheral blood