How common is problematic cannabis use among medical users?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-02-17 03:00

Australia; NSW

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Cannabis use disorder (CUD) or problematic cannabis use is just as common among those taking it for medical reasons as those using it recreationally, according to Australian research. The team surveyed about 900 people who used marijuana for medical reasons, searching for signs of CUD. They say about one in three met some criteria for the condition, and just under one in seven met the criteria for moderate to severe CUD. The researchers say this is comparable to the research for recreational users, and people who used marijuana to treat mental health conditions appeared to be at higher risk of CUD than those treating pain conditions.

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Journal/
conference: Drug and Alcohol Review

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The University of Sydney, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), The University of New South Wales

Funder: This research was supported by the University of Sydney Division of Addiction Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health; and the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, a not-for-profit, philanthropically funded research program at the University of Sydney. It received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public or commercial sectors.

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