Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39815267›Full record

ArticleHarm reduction journal2025

Reducing medical cannabis use risk among Veterans: A descriptive study.

Laura M Harris-Lane, Mitchell Sheehy, Courtney A Loveless, Joshua A Rash, David P Storey, Gregory K Tippin, Vikas Parihar, Nick Harris

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PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Harm reduction journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

8 authors.

Laura M Harris-LaneDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Mitchell SheehyDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Courtney A LovelessDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Joshua A RashDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
David P StoreyDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Gregory K TippinMichael G. DeGroote Pain Clinic, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Vikas PariharMichael G. DeGroote Pain Clinic, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Nick HarrisDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada. nharris@mun.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCanadian Veterans experiencing chronic pain report concerns about accessing accurate information on the risks associated with medical cannabis (MC) use. The Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) were developed to equip individuals who use cannabis recreationally with safer-use strategies. Many of the harm reduction recommendations for recreational cannabis use are relevant and important considerations for MC use. The primary objective of our study was to assess Canadian Veterans' awareness of and interest in the LRCUG, and engagement in potential higher-risk MC use behaviours.

methodsCanadian Armed Forces Veterans living with chronic pain (N = 582) were recruited online and through the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans. Participants completed measures on: cannabis use (never, past, current use), sources of cannabis knowledge, mental health, and awareness of and interest in receiving the LRCUG. Chi-Square and post-hoc analyses characterized the sample and assessed for demographic differences based on cannabis use status and awareness of the LRCUG. Engagement in higher-risk MC use behaviours were aligned to LRCUG recommendations, and detailed descriptively.

resultsVeterans who currently use cannabis were more likely to be unemployed (z = 3.62, p < .01), released as a Non-Commissioned Officer (z = -3.83, p < .01), and unable to work due a disability (z = -3.43, p < .01) than Veterans who do not currently use. Less than 30% of Veterans were aware of the LRCUG, with greater awareness among individuals who currently use cannabis (n = 356). Engagement in higher-risk MC use behaviours that contradicted LRCUG recommendations ranged from ~ 9% to ~ 85%. Approximately 9% of Veterans experienced co-morbid mental health concerns, yet their MC use was not for mental health purposes (LRCUG recommendation #7). Additionally, almost 85% of Veterans engaged in daily MC use (LRCUG recommendation #5). The majority of Veterans who currently use cannabis engaged in two or more higher-risk MC use behaviours (60.2%; LRCUG recommendation #12). Almost half of all Veterans received their cannabis information from a healthcare provider or the internet.

conclusionsOur study suggests the importance of safer use guidelines tailored for MC use. Development of lower-risk MC use guidelines can support prescribing practitioners and Veterans with information needed for safer and better-informed MC use decisions, tailored to patients' needs and circumstances.

Indexed as

Chronic PainHarm ReductionHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMedical MarijuanaVeteransAdultCanadaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMedical MarijuanaChronic painHarm reductionLower risk cannabis use guidelinesMedical cannabisVeterans

Identifiers

PMID39815267
PMCPMC11737168

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.