Abstract
Relatively little is known in terms of patient demographics, indications, previous cannabis use, or the forms and dosages of medical marijuana (MM) dispensed for patients at MM dispensaries. Even less is known in terms of how male and female patients may differ in each of these aspects. The goal of the current study was to examine each of these variables using a retrospective analysis of deidentified patient data from MM dispensaries in Louisiana. Deidentified data were analyzed from web-based pharmacist–patient consultations at MM dispensaries throughout Louisiana. Data were collected during the first 6 months following the initiation of the MM dispensing program in Louisiana. A total of 1195 MM patients (598 male/597 female) were included in the analyses. The average age of the sample was 51.9 years (±14.8) and it was composed primarily of white patients (86.7%). Males and females were nearly identical in terms of average age, race, previous cannabis use, indication profile, and MM recommendations. Differences between males and females were observed in terms of opioid use, history of psychosis, presence of more than one indication, and the duration of previous cannabis use. Our data indicate that, in MM dispensaries of the Deep South state, there are numerous similarities—and some potentially important differences—between male and female MM patients. The importance of these differences, and the importance of continued data collection/analysis, for improving MM dispensing are discussed.
Highlights
Recent surveys suggest that around 8% of adults in the United States use marijuana, with upwards of 4% of those surveyed reporting the daily use of marijuana [1,2]
Only a small number of publications exist on the topics related to medical marijuana (MM) dispensaries, and most of these existing studies have focused on patients with specific indications [9,10], comparisons of younger and older MM patients [11,12], perceptions and training related to dispensary staff [13,14], or associations between the MM dispensary and different aspects of the local community [15,16]
Our current study adds to this existing literature by reporting on multiple characteristics within a broad spectrum of MM patients, and to the best of our knowledge is potentially the first study to examine the similarities and differences between male and female MM patients
Summary
Recent surveys suggest that around 8% of adults in the United States use marijuana, with upwards of 4% of those surveyed reporting the daily use of marijuana [1,2]. 30 states and the District of Columbia have approved medical marijuana (MM) use, with MM believed to represent approximately 10% of adult marijuana users [4]. There is considerable variability in the state-approved MM programs in terms of the indications for which MM has been approved, with very little guidance currently available for physicians to use for determinations of the optimal dose and form of MM to recommend to a patient. Despite the growing number of state-approved MM programs, relatively little is known in terms of even basic patient demographics for individuals participating in MM programs [7,8]. Little is currently known in terms of the history of previous cannabis use in MM patients and the profile of MM recommendations within an individual state.
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