A new federal study sheds light on the remarkable surge in enrollment in state-legal medical cannabis programs across the United States in recent years.
Conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the University of Michigan, the study attributes this increase to the growing cultural acceptance of cannabis. Published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Between 2020 and 2022, the number of registered medical cannabis patients in the U.S. rose by 33.3 percent, reaching over 4.1 million in 2022 compared to approximately 3.1 million in 2020. However, the study also found that jurisdictions with legal adult-use cannabis experienced a decline in patient registrations during the same period.
The researchers analyzed data from 39 U.S. jurisdictions with legal medical cannabis, revealing that chronic pain and PTSD were the most common qualifying conditions reported by patients. Despite these increases, the study found a decrease in the proportion of reported conditions for which cannabis has proven therapeutic value according to a 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report.
Kevin Boehnke, the lead author of the study and a professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, emphasized the importance of understanding the evolving national cannabis landscape, especially amid discussions about potential federal rescheduling of cannabis.
Boehnke highlighted the need for effective integration of cannabis into medical treatment and underscored the barriers posed by federal prohibition to research and patient care. He called for changes to outdated policies and increased public health efforts to address the growing cannabis use.
The study also recommended implementing safety measures, enhancing clinician education, and conducting further research to better understand the outcomes of medical cannabis use.
Federal agencies have shown increasing interest in studying cannabis markets and trends, reflecting the evolving legal and regulatory landscape surrounding cannabis in the United States. These efforts include investigations into youth cannabis use, forensic testing methods, hemp legalization, and the development of genetically modified hemp varieties.
As the discussion around cannabis continues to evolve, it’s clear that a comprehensive approach is needed to address the complex issues surrounding medical cannabis use, regulation, and patient care in the United States.
