Hi, my aunt has a very bad liver. She has stopped drinking alcohol and started eating thc gummies instead. Wondering what organ processes the thc? If it is liver, is it as damaging to liver as alcohol? Thanks!
Hi there,
First off, congrats to your aunt for making the tough decision to stop drinking alcohol. That’s a huge step in the right direction for her health!
To answer your question, yes, THC is indeed processed by the liver. While it’s not as harsh on the liver as alcohol, it’s still something the liver has to work on and process, and breaking down so that it can be disposed. The liver acts as a sort of waste treatment plant, which takes a substance that the body is no longer using, and prepares it for evacuation.
Given that your aunt’s liver isn’t in the best shape, it’s important that she is very careful. Even though THC doesn’t cause the same kind of damage as alcohol, it can still add some stress to her liver.
I’d strongly suggest she talks to her doctor about this. Her healthcare provider should be able to give her the best advice tailored to her specific situation, that accounts for the medications she’s on and any other underlying conditions – and they should be in a position to help her make the safest choices for her liver health.
If you (or the doc) come up with more questions about her liver, I’m more than happy to help!
Thanks again for the question!
Take care,
Dr. Caplan
