Table 3 Patterns of use among current and past users of cannabis to manage MSK pain (N=144)
Survey item | Response | % (count) |
|---|---|---|
Are you currently (within the last 3 months) using cannabis to manage your MSK pain? | Yes | 72.2% (104) |
No | 27.8% (40) | |
Do you intend to use cannabis to manage your MSK pain in the future? | Yes | 82.5% (118) |
No | 17.5% (25) | |
Not reported | — (1) | |
How long have or did you use cannabis to manage your MSK pain? | <6 weeks | 24.6% (35) |
6 weeks to 3 months | 12.7% (18) | |
3 to 6 months | 10.6% (15) | |
6 months to 1 year | 12% (17) | |
1 to 2 years | 13.4% (19) | |
≥2 years | 26.8% (38) | |
Not reported | — (2) | |
What strain/type of cannabis do or did you use? (select all that apply) | High-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) strain | 13.3% (19) |
Cannabidiol (CBD) | 38.5% (55) | |
Nabilone | 0.7% (1) | |
Levonantradol | 0% (0) | |
Dronabinol | 0% (0) | |
Nabiximols | 0% (0) | |
A mix of the above | 19.6% (28) | |
Unspecified/conventional cannabis | 4.9% (7) | |
I am not sure | 23.1% (33) | |
Not reported | — (1) | |
How often do or did you use cannabis for the management of MSK pain? | Daily | 59.4% (85) |
Weekly | 18.9% (27) | |
Monthly | 6.3% (9) | |
Less than once a month | 15.4% (22) | |
Not reported | — (1) | |
How much do or did you spend monthly on cannabis to manage MSK pain? | <$50 | 30.1% (43) |
$50-100 | 30.8% (44) | |
$100-200 | 24.5% (35) | |
$200-400 | 11.9% (17) | |
≥$400 | 2.8% (4) | |
Not reported | — (1) | |
Why did you start using cannabis for MSK pain? (select all that apply) | Advised/recommended by an MD | 25.7% (37) |
Advised by a health professional other than MD | 6.2% (9) | |
Advised by family member, friend, or another individual who is not a health professional | 25.7% (37) | |
My pain was insufficiently controlled using other medications and/or treatments | 17.4% (25) | |
I was interested in managing pain without conventional medications and/or treatments | 24.3% (35) | |
I wanted to avoid side-effect(s) that I experienced using other medications and/or treatments | 20.1% (29) | |
Other | 6.2% (9) | |
What is or was your preferred mode of cannabis use? (select all that apply) | Smoking | 36.4% (52) |
Vaporizing | 31.5% (45) | |
Oil | 56.6% (81) | |
Tinctures | 6.3% (9) | |
Capsules | 9.8% (14) | |
Edibles | 22.4% (32) | |
Topical application | 9.8% (14) | |
Patch formulation | 0.7% (1) | |
Other method | 0.7% (1) | |
Not reported | — (1) | |
Where do or did you acquire your cannabis? (select all that apply) | Friend/relative/someone I know | 33.1% (47) |
Cannabis dispensary/Compassionate club | 43% (61) | |
Dealer/on the street | 4.2% (6) | |
Homegrown, without license | 6.3% (9) | |
Homegrown, with license | 1.4% (2) | |
Health Canada licensed provider | 33.8% (48) | |
Not reported | — (2) | |
In your opinion, how effective was or has cannabis been at controlling your MSK pain? | Very effective | 25.9% (37) |
Somewhat effective | 37.8% (54) | |
Slightly effective | 23.1% (33) | |
Not effective | 13.3% (19) | |
Not reported | — (1) | |
In your opinion, how effective has cannabis been in controlling your MSK pain compared to prescription medication? | Much more effective | 17.6% (25) |
Somewhat more effective | 39.4% (56) | |
No difference | 21.8% (31) | |
Somewhat less effective | 9.9% (14) | |
Much less effective | 11.3% (16) | |
Not reported | — (2) | |
Has your use of other pain medications changed since you started using cannabis? | Increased use of all other pain medications | 0.7% (1) |
Use of all other pain medications unchanged | 57.6% (80) | |
Decreased use of all other pain medications | 39.6% (55) | |
Multiple changes reported | 2.2% (3) | |
Not reported | — (5) | |
Side-effects/negative effects from taking cannabis for MSK pain (select all that apply) | Dizziness | 8.7% (12) |
Dry mouth | 42.8% (59) | |
Nausea | 5.8% (8) | |
Fatigue | 22.5% (31) | |
Lack of motivation | 14.5% (20) | |
Depression | 2.9% (4) | |
Vomiting | 0.7% (1) | |
Weight gain | 5.8% (8) | |
Euphoria | 9.4% (13) | |
Other | 5.1% (7) | |
None of the above | 38.4% (53) | |
Not reported | — (6) | |
Have you ever used cannabis to treat a symptom/condition other than MSK pain? | No | 49.3% (70) |
Yes, MSK pain first | 22.5% (32) | |
Yes, other condition(s) first | 28.2% (40) | |
Not reported | — (2) | |
Symptoms/conditions other than MSK pain treated using cannabis (select all that apply) | Nausea | 16.7% (23) |
Headache | 18.1% (25) | |
Sleep disturbances | 44.2% (61) | |
Appetite/weight | 9.4% (13) | |
Anxiety | 26.1% (36) | |
Depression | 15.2% (21) | |
Post-traumatic stress disorder | 8% (11) | |
Other | 5.1% (7) | |
None of the above | 42.8% (59) | |
Not reported | — (6) |