Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38589855›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2024

Canadians' use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes since legalization of recreational cannabis: a cross-sectional analysis by medical authorization status.

Lynda G Balneaves, Ashleigh Brown, Matthew Green, Erin Prosk, Lucile Rapin, Max Monahan-Ellison, Eva McMillan, Jonathan Zaid, Michael Dworkind, Cody Z Watling

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
4.5field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Lynda G BalneavesCollege of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. lynda.balneaves@umanitoba.ca.
Ashleigh BrownSheCann Cannabis, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Matthew GreenMedical Cannabis Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Erin ProskSanté Cannabis, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Lucile RapinSanté Cannabis, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Max Monahan-EllisonMedical Cannabis Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Eva McMillanSanté Cannabis, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Jonathan ZaidMedical Cannabis Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Michael DworkindSanté Cannabis, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Cody Z WatlingCollege of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Sante Montreal · CAUniversity of Manitoba · CABrock University · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere has been a precipitous decline in authorizations for medical cannabis since non-medical cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018. This study examines the demographic and health- and medical cannabis-related factors associated with authorization as well as the differences in medical cannabis use, side effects, and sources of medical cannabis and information by authorization status.

methodsIndividuals who were taking cannabis for therapeutic purposes completed an online survey in early 2022. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of demographic and health- and medical cannabis-related variables associated with holding medical cannabis authorization. The differences in medical cannabis use, side effects, and sources of information by authorization status were determined via t-tests and chi-squared analysis.

resultsA total of 5433 individuals who were currently taking cannabis for therapeutic purposes completed the study, of which 2941 (54.1%) currently held medical authorization. Individuals with authorization were more likely to be older (OR ≥ 70 years vs. < 30 years, 4.85 (95% CI, 3.49-6.76)), identify as a man (OR man vs. woman, 1.53 (1.34-1.74)), have a higher income (OR > $100,000/year vs. < $50,000 year, 1.55 (1.30-1.84)), and less likely to live in a small town (OR small town/rural vs. large city, 0.69 (0.59-0.81)). They were significantly more likely to report not experiencing any side effects (29.9% vs. 23.4%; p < 0.001), knowing the amount of cannabis they were taking (32.1% vs. 17.7%; p < 0.001), obtaining cannabis from regulated sources (74.1% vs. 47.5%; p < 0.001), and seeking information about medical cannabis from healthcare professionals (67.8% vs. 48.2%; p < 0.01) than individuals without authorization.

conclusionsThese findings offer insight into the possible issues regarding equitable access to medical cannabis and how authorization may support and influence individuals in a jurisdiction where recreational cannabis is legalized, highlighting the value of a formal medical cannabis authorization process.

Indexed as

CannabisMedical MarijuanaNorth American PeopleAdultAgedCanadaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMedical MarijuanaAuthorizationDecision supportExperienceMedical cannabisPolicyProgramRecreational cannabisSymptoms

Identifiers

PMID38589855
PMCPMC11003000
OpenAlexW4394582417

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.