What are the experiences of patients using cannabis for pain? A systematic review of qualitative studies

Abstract

Cannabis is used by over 250 million individuals worldwide for a wide range of medical and recreational purposes. The most common health condition for which medicinal cannabis is used by patients is pain. To date, no review has summarized qualitative data from studies seeking to understand patients’ subjective experiences with cannabis for pain management, thus making this the objective of this systematic review. MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED and CINAHL were systematically searched from database inception to May 15, 2020. English-language studies were eligible if they reported qualitative data surrounding patients’ experiences with using cannabis for pain. Relevant data were extracted and a thematic analysis was conducted. Of 1741 titles and abstracts screened, 8 studies were included in this review. Four major themes emerged from our thematic analysis, as follows: (1) problems with cannabis use; (2) benefits of cannabis use; (3) patients’ experimentation with and knowledge of cannabis; and 4) physicians’ lack of experience with cannabis for pain therapy. Patients using cannabis for pain reported experiencing several side effects, however, there were also numerous perceptions of benefits such as pain reduction. It is important that patients feel comfortable inquiring about medicinal cannabis should they choose to pursue it as a therapeutic option; healthcare providers should, therefore, be aware of the stigma that exists surrounding its use. Future qualitative research should aim to understand patients’ experiences with using different strains, dosages, and methods of cannabis administration, as well as their attitudes and concerns associated with cannabis legalization.