TY - JOUR
T1 - Online survey of medicinal cannabis users
T2 - Qualitative analysis of patient-level data
AU - Garcia-Romeu, Albert
AU - Elmore, Joshua
AU - Mayhugh, Rhiannon E.
AU - Schlienz, Nicolas J.
AU - Martin, Erin L.
AU - Strickland, Justin C.
AU - Bonn-Miller, Marcel
AU - Jackson, Heather
AU - Vandrey, Ryan
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this research was provided by the Realm of Caring Foundation. Support for Strickland and Schlienz was provided in part by National Institutes of Health T32 DA07209. Support for Martin was provided by NIH/NIDA T32 DA007288.
Funding Information:
Funding for this research was provided by the Realm of Caring Foundation. Support for Strickland and Schlienz was provided in part by National Institutes of Health T32 DA07209. Support for Martin was provided by NIH/NIDA T32 DA007288.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Garcia-Romeu, Elmore, Mayhugh, Schlienz, Martin, Strickland, Bonn-Miller, Jackson and Vandrey.
PY - 2022/9/6
Y1 - 2022/9/6
N2 - Aim: To characterize perceived benefits and challenges experienced by medicinal cannabis users. Methods: An anonymous online survey collected demographics, health information, and open-ended responses from medicinal cannabis users regarding perceptions, motivations, and experience of treatment. Qualitative open-ended responses were thematically analyzed. Results: Respondents (N = 808) were predominantly White (79%), female (63%), with a mean (SD) age of 38 (20). Two hundred eighty-four (35%) respondents provided data on a dependent family member (e.g., child; 22% of total sample). Most used cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant products (58%), primarily for neurological disorders (38%) or pain (25%). Primary motivations for medicinal cannabis use were based on beliefs that traditional treatments were ineffective and/or had intolerable side effects (51%), positive scientific or media portrayals of the safety/efficacy of cannabis as a therapeutic (29%), or preference for “natural” treatments over pharmaceuticals (21%). A majority of respondents (77%) attributed positive effects to the medicinal use of cannabis/cannabinoids. These included physical symptom improvements such as reduced pain (28%), improved sleep (18%), and seizure reduction (18%), and mental health improvements including reduced anxiety (22%) and improved mood (11%). Additionally, respondents reported reduced use of other medications (e.g., opioids) (12%), and improved quality of life (14%). Problems associated with use were cited by 41% of respondents, and included unwanted side effects (16%), lack of information or medical support (16%), prohibitive costs (12%), and legal concerns (10%). Conclusion: Most participants reported benefits from cannabis use for a variety of conditions where traditional treatments were ineffective or unacceptable. Concerns regarding cannabis side effects, legality, lack of information, and cost were raised. Data indicate greater research and education on the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis/cannabinoid use is warranted.
AB - Aim: To characterize perceived benefits and challenges experienced by medicinal cannabis users. Methods: An anonymous online survey collected demographics, health information, and open-ended responses from medicinal cannabis users regarding perceptions, motivations, and experience of treatment. Qualitative open-ended responses were thematically analyzed. Results: Respondents (N = 808) were predominantly White (79%), female (63%), with a mean (SD) age of 38 (20). Two hundred eighty-four (35%) respondents provided data on a dependent family member (e.g., child; 22% of total sample). Most used cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant products (58%), primarily for neurological disorders (38%) or pain (25%). Primary motivations for medicinal cannabis use were based on beliefs that traditional treatments were ineffective and/or had intolerable side effects (51%), positive scientific or media portrayals of the safety/efficacy of cannabis as a therapeutic (29%), or preference for “natural” treatments over pharmaceuticals (21%). A majority of respondents (77%) attributed positive effects to the medicinal use of cannabis/cannabinoids. These included physical symptom improvements such as reduced pain (28%), improved sleep (18%), and seizure reduction (18%), and mental health improvements including reduced anxiety (22%) and improved mood (11%). Additionally, respondents reported reduced use of other medications (e.g., opioids) (12%), and improved quality of life (14%). Problems associated with use were cited by 41% of respondents, and included unwanted side effects (16%), lack of information or medical support (16%), prohibitive costs (12%), and legal concerns (10%). Conclusion: Most participants reported benefits from cannabis use for a variety of conditions where traditional treatments were ineffective or unacceptable. Concerns regarding cannabis side effects, legality, lack of information, and cost were raised. Data indicate greater research and education on the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis/cannabinoid use is warranted.
KW - CBD-cannabidiol
KW - THC-tetrahydrocannabinol
KW - cannabis (marijuana)
KW - medical marijuana
KW - qualitative
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85138287377
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85138287377#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.3389/fphar.2022.965535
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2022.965535
M3 - Article
C2 - 36147312
AN - SCOPUS:85138287377
SN - 1663-9812
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
JF - Frontiers in Pharmacology
M1 - 965535
ER -