Brief Answer: True to some extent. Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to Healthcare Magic! The doctor in the emergency room was right to some extent. Smoking anything, whether tobacco or marijuana, increases one's risk of developing peptic ulcers and prevents healing of pre-existing ulcers. The chemicals in marijuana may not have much to do with your ulcers and the exacerbation you suffer periodically. In fact, in most animal studies, chemicals in marijuana, when administered in low doses orally, have been shown to have a protective effect on the lining of the gastro-intestinal tract. But when the mode of ingestion is smoking, human studies have found mostly adverse effects. The damage would even be worse if you mix tobacco in your joints, as nicotine itself worsens gastric ulcers. I hope this clears up things for you. Please feel free to ask in case you need any clarifications. Best wishes. Dr Preeti Parakh MD Psychiatry

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