Who is using cannabis as a medicine and why: An exploratory study?

This article reports on an exploratory study of medical cannabis users. Int erviews were completed with 50 self-identified medical cannabis users recru ited through notices in newspapers and on bulletin boards. They reported us ing cannabis For a variety of conditions including HIV-AIDS-related problem s, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, menstrual cramps. migraine, narcotic addiction as well as everyday aches, pains, stresses and sleeping difficult ies. A majority also used cannabis for recreational purposes, and many were longer-term cannabis users. However, there were some notable exceptions. A lmost all smoked cannabis and many did so two to three times a day. Few adm itted negative experiences with cannabis, although some problems evident to the researchers were not clearly admitted. Those who told their doctors ab out their medical cannabis use round doctors noncommittal or supportive. Th e results raise questions about the definition of medical cannabis use and about policies that might be developed to accommodate such use. Limitations of the study are noted and further research suggested. Research priorities include population surveys, studies involving larger, more representative samples of medical cannabis users and studies of medical cannabis use among people with HIV-AIDS.