Exploring medicinal use of cannabis in a time of policy change in New Zealand

N Z Med J. 2020 May 22;133(1515):54-69.

Abstract

Aims: To explore patterns of medicinal cannabis use prior to implementation of the new Medicinal Cannabis Scheme (MCS) in New Zealand.

Methods: An anonymous online convenience survey of 3,634 last-year medicinal users of cannabis promoted via Facebook™ from May to August 2019.

Results: Fifty percent of the sample were female, 18% were Māori and the median age was 38 years. The medical conditions for which cannabis was most often used were pain (81%), sleep (66%) and mental health conditions (64%). Respondents perceived cannabis to be an effective therapy and reported reducing use of other pharmaceutical medicines. Fifty-two percent reported side effects from cannabis use, including increased appetite (29%), drowsiness (12%), eye irritation (11%), dependency (10%), memory impairment (10%) and lack of energy (9%). Smoking was the dominant route of administration. Nearly half (47%) had discussed their use of cannabis with a medical professional in the previous year, while 14% had requested a prescription and 5% accessed a prescribed cannabis-based product (mostly oral CBD).

Conclusion: Respondents self-medicated with cannabis to treat a wide range of health complaints. Only half discussed medicinal cannabis use with their medical professional, and a minority requested a prescription and used a prescribed cannabis-based product.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cannabis* / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Health Policy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marijuana Smoking / adverse effects
  • Marijuana Smoking / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Medical Marijuana / adverse effects
  • Medical Marijuana / economics
  • Medical Marijuana / supply & distribution
  • Medical Marijuana / therapeutic use*
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • New Zealand
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Phytotherapy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / economics
  • Plant Extracts / supply & distribution
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / drug therapy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Medical Marijuana
  • Plant Extracts