Cannabis and Hep C: Can Cannabis Treat Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that is passed through contaminated blood. While acute hepatitis C clears up for some people within six months, it will become a long-term condition for between 75% and 85% of those infected, potentially leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

Experts have not determined where the hepatitis C virus (HCV) originated. Still, they theorize that it has occurred in humans for a long time - possibly for at least 3000 years.¹ The CDC estimates that 1% of the United States population is currently infected with hepatitis C, and around 66,700 acute hepatitis C cases occurred in 2020. 

One of the most significant findings in recent years is the development of medicines with over a 90% success rate in curing HCV patients. Comparatively, when the first treatment for hepatitis C was approved in 1991, only 6% of patients were cured.²

What Causes Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is caused by exposure to blood or bodily fluids containing the hepatitis C virus. Individuals are susceptible to hepatitis C through:

• Injection, commonly involving illicit drug use
• Blood transfusions or organ transplants before July 1992
• Being born to a mother infected with HCV
• Sex with someone infected with HCV
• Sharing certain personal care items with an HCV-infected person (those that may come into contact with blood)
• Healthcare procedures involving injections
• Receiving a tattoo in unsanitary conditions
• Being a healthcare worker exposed to HCV-infected blood
• Having HIV
• Having worked in or been in prison
• Clotting factor concentrates before 1987
• Kidney dialysis treatments

In the United States, the most common way people are infected with hepatitis C is through drug injections with contaminated needles.

Hepatitis C Signs & Symptoms

If you have hepatitis C, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Decreased appetite
• Jaundice
• Dark urine
• Itchy skin
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Stool that is clay-colored
• Joint pain
• Confusion
• Blood vessels that appear spider-like on the skin 

Symptoms of HCV can take up to 12 weeks to appear, and some people may be asymptomatic until the virus has caused significant damage to their liver. 

A chronic hepatitis C infection can cause:

• Cirrhosis of the liver,
• Liver cancer,
• Liver failure,
• Death.

Can Cannabis Help Alleviate Hepatitis C Symptoms?

Experts are still in the early stages of studying how marijuana and hepatitis C interact. Although between 40% and 75% of people with hepatitis C use cannabis for relief from hepatitis C symptoms, anxiety, and depression, research into whether cannabis has a clinically significant effect on the outcomes of patients with hepatitis C is not definitive.³ 

Scientists aren’t sure whether marijuana affects the hepatitis C virus, but it may be able to address adverse effects associated with hepatitis C and its treatment.

• A 2014 cohort study looked at treatment outcomes and liver disease in patients with HCV and found that marijuana use had no significant positive or negative effect on either.⁴ 

• In a 2018 review, researchers studied cirrhosis in people with HCV. Although there were more cases of advanced cirrhosis in HCV patients who used cannabis, researchers could not explain why, and these results were not considered clinically significant.⁵

• Some studies show that the side effects of marijuana use may increase the risk of contracting viruses like HCV, but there is no conclusive data proving that marijuana has an adverse effect on the actual progression of hepatitis C.⁶ 

• In 2017, research found that, in vitro, CBD may have potential as a hepatitis-C treatment when it showed antiviral activity against HCV. This supports the need for future clinical research into why this may be the case.⁷

• In a recent study published in 2022, experts looked at people with chronic HCV. They concluded that cannabis use was associated with a reduced number of complications that could increase the risk of liver disease, although more research is needed to corroborate these results and determine their significance for future therapies.⁸

Research into medical marijuana and hepatitis C has led to conflicting results and even more questions for the future. There does seem to be an association between cannabis and HCV, but we do not know exactly what it is, whether it is definitively good or bad, or if it can even be replicated. The recent developments in the ability to cure the majority of cases of HCV further confuse past research. 

CBD may have the potential as a future treatment, but these results must be corroborated in research studies involving people. While some people with HCV seem to use medical marijuana without significant adverse events, it is not certain what long-term impact there may be and whether it is on the virus itself or its side effects. 

Medicinal cannabis is currently legal in 38 states and Washington, DC, but using it when you are at risk or have hepatitis C can still come with some hazards and may not be worth it. It is also possible that behaviors associated with using cannabis could put you at risk. Marijuana can also interact with some medicines, so make sure to consult with a healthcare provider. 

Cannabis does not replace treatment for hepatitis C, but it may help some people with the side effects. It is important to note whether the risks are worth it for you, especially because hepatitis C is primarily curable with medication. 

Legality and Doctor’s Recommendation

To determine if your state considers hepatitis C to be a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, check out our Laws & Regulations section for the medical cannabis rules for your state.

If you find that your state recognizes hepatitis C or its symptoms as a qualifying medical condition, you can seek a doctor’s recommendation to get your medical cannabis card in your state.

How NuggMD Can Help

NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in 28 states and growing. We’ve connected over 1,300,000 patients with their new medical marijuana doctors face-to-face via our state-of-the-art telemedicine platform. 

We believe that every human being has the right to explore the benefits of medical cannabis and are fully committed to helping each patient explore all of their options in their journey to wellness. For further information on whether you qualify for medical cannabis, select your state.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabis & Hepatitis C

Can you get hepatitis from smoking marijuana with someone?

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through contact with HCV-infected blood, so while it is unlikely that you will contract it from smoking cannabis with someone else, it could be possible if the other person has an open wound on their lips or mouth.

Is cannabis bad for your liver?

Researchers have observed an association between cannabis use and liver disease, but whether it is positive or negative depends on the study.  More targeted research is needed to determine if cannabis has an adverse effect on the liver.

Does using marijuana put you at risk for hepatitis C?

Research is in its early stages with somewhat contradictory results. Still, so far, cannabis use has not been proven to put you at risk for contracting or worsening hepatitis C. Medical marijuana, specifically cannabidiol (CBD), may one day prove to work against the virus, but much more study is needed.⁷ 

Resources

1. Forni D, Cagliani R, Pontremoli C, et al. Evolutionary Analysis Provides Insight Into the Origin and Adaptation of HCV. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2018;9. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00854
2. Ward, J. “Hepatitis c Virus: The 25-Year Journey from Discovery to Cure.” Hepatology. 2014;60(5): 1479–82. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.27377.
3. Costiniuk CT, Saneei Z, Salahuddin S, et al. Cannabis Consumption in People Living with HIV: Reasons for Use, Secondary Effects, and Opportunities for Health Education. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2019;4(3):204-213. doi:10.1089/can.2018.0068
4. Liu T, Howell GT, Turner L, Corace K, Garber G, Cooper C. Marijuana use in hepatitis C infection does not affect liver biopsy histology or treatment outcomes. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;28(7):381-384. doi:10.1155/2014/804969
5. Wijarnpreecha K, Panjawatanan P, Ungprasert P. Use of cannabis and risk of advanced liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. 2018;11(4):272-277. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12317
6. Maggirwar SB, Khalsa JH. The Link between Cannabis Use, Immune System, and Viral Infections. Viruses. 2021; 13(6):1099. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13061099
7. Lowe HI, Toyang NJ, McLaughlin W. Potential of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. Pharmacognosy Res. 2017;9(1):116-118. doi:10.4103/0974-8490.199780
8. Barré T, Bourlière M, Ramier C, et al. Cannabis Use Is Inversely Associated with Metabolic Disorders in Hepatitis C-Infected Patients (ANRS CO22 Hepather Cohort). Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022;11(20):6135. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11206135

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.