Overlapping patterns of recreational and medical cannabis use in a large community sample of cannabis users.
Addiction
Anxiety
Attitudes
Cannabis
Depression
Marijuana
Pain
Journal
Comprehensive psychiatry
ISSN: 1532-8384
Titre abrégé: Compr Psychiatry
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0372612
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
10 2020
10 2020
Historique:
received:
05
11
2019
revised:
11
04
2020
accepted:
28
05
2020
pubmed:
13
7
2020
medline:
22
12
2020
entrez:
13
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Regulatory changes are increasing access to both medical cannabis and cannabis in general. As such, understanding patterns of recreational and medical cannabis use is a high public health priority. Patterns of cannabis use (recreational and medical), other substance use, and psychiatric symptoms were characterized in a large sample of community adult cannabis users in Canada, prior to federal cannabis legalization. This was a self-report assessment of 709 cannabis users (Mean age = 30.19 (11.82) years; 55.01% female). Patterns of overall substance use and psychiatric symptomatology were compared based on recreational/medical cannabis status. Overall, 61.4% of participants endorsed exclusively recreational use, while 38.6% reported some level of medical use. Of all medical users, only 23.4% reported authorization from a health professional. Recreational cannabis users typically reported infrequent use (less than weekly), whereas medical users modally reported daily use. Compared to recreational users, medical users reported more problematic cannabis use in addition to greater psychiatric symptomatology (anxiety, depression and trauma). Interestingly, a large majority of medical users also reported using recreationally (80.6%), while exclusive medical use was less common (19.3%). This dual motives group reported more daily cannabis use and more alcohol and tobacco use. Compared to medical-only users, individuals using cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes more often used cannabis to treat psychiatric conditions. These findings reveal the differences in cannabis use patterns and preferences between recreational and medical users, and even within medical users. In particular, dual motives individuals, who use cannabis for both positively and negatively reinforcing purposes, may warrant special attention as a subpopulation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Regulatory changes are increasing access to both medical cannabis and cannabis in general. As such, understanding patterns of recreational and medical cannabis use is a high public health priority.
OBJECTIVES
Patterns of cannabis use (recreational and medical), other substance use, and psychiatric symptoms were characterized in a large sample of community adult cannabis users in Canada, prior to federal cannabis legalization.
METHODS
This was a self-report assessment of 709 cannabis users (Mean age = 30.19 (11.82) years; 55.01% female). Patterns of overall substance use and psychiatric symptomatology were compared based on recreational/medical cannabis status.
RESULTS
Overall, 61.4% of participants endorsed exclusively recreational use, while 38.6% reported some level of medical use. Of all medical users, only 23.4% reported authorization from a health professional. Recreational cannabis users typically reported infrequent use (less than weekly), whereas medical users modally reported daily use. Compared to recreational users, medical users reported more problematic cannabis use in addition to greater psychiatric symptomatology (anxiety, depression and trauma). Interestingly, a large majority of medical users also reported using recreationally (80.6%), while exclusive medical use was less common (19.3%). This dual motives group reported more daily cannabis use and more alcohol and tobacco use. Compared to medical-only users, individuals using cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes more often used cannabis to treat psychiatric conditions.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings reveal the differences in cannabis use patterns and preferences between recreational and medical users, and even within medical users. In particular, dual motives individuals, who use cannabis for both positively and negatively reinforcing purposes, may warrant special attention as a subpopulation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32653594
pii: S0010-440X(20)30030-4
doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152188
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Medical Marijuana
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
152188Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 McMaster University. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest James MacKillop is a principal in BEAM Diagnostics, Inc. Michael Van Ameringen is on advisory boards for Tilray, Allergan, Almatica, Lundbeck Canada, Otsuka and Purdue Canada. He is also on the Speaker's Bureau for Allergan, Lundbeck Canada, Pfizer and Purdue Canada. All remaining authors have nothing to disclose.