Only 8% of US medical cannabis registries reported patient race/ethnicity, 11% tracked adverse events, and 6% reported therapeutic benefits, revealing major gaps in public health surveillance of medical cannabis.
Cannabis policy makers, public health researchers, medical cannabis program administrators
Only 8% tracked patient race/ethnicity
What the researchers found
Among 36 states with medical cannabis programs, 97% reported patient numbers and 75% reported authorizing clinicians. Least reported: patient race/ethnicity (8%), adverse events (11%), therapeutic benefits (6%), and product recalls (6%). Newer programs (2013-2018) reported more subcategories (median 11 vs. 8).
Why it matters
Without tracking adverse events, therapeutic benefits, or patient demographics, states cannot assess whether medical cannabis is safe, effective, or equitably accessible. This is a fundamental gap in public health surveillance.
The numbers in context
36 states analyzed. Patient numbers: 97%. Clinician numbers: 75%. Race/ethnicity: 8%. Adverse events: 11%. Therapeutic benefits: 6%. Product recalls: 6%. Newer programs: median 11 subcategories vs. 8 for early adopters.
How the study worked
Analysis of 2021 medical cannabis registry reports from 34 states, Puerto Rico, and DC. Data manually coded into domains including patient demographics, clinician data, sales, and health/safety outcomes.
What this study cannot tell us
Relies on publicly available reports which may not reflect all data collected. States may collect but not publish some data. One-year snapshot (2021). Cannot assess data quality within reported categories.
How to read the evidence
Comprehensive analysis of publicly available registry data with systematic coding, but limited by what states choose to report.
When this study was published
2024 analysis of 2021 state medical cannabis registry reports
The bigger picture
Medical cannabis is unique among therapeutic interventions in how little post-market surveillance occurs. Prescription drugs have FDA adverse event reporting, but medical cannabis programs largely operate without comparable safety monitoring.
Questions still open
- Should federal standards mandate minimum data reporting for medical cannabis registries? Could standardized reporting across states enable population-level safety analysis?
Common questions
Do states track whether medical cannabis is helping patients?
Do newer medical cannabis programs report better data?
Read the original research
Data Quality in State Registry Reports of Medical Cannabis Patients in the United States.
American journal of public health, 114(S8), S685-S693
Citation
Boehnke, Kevin F; Sinclair, Rachel; Gordon, Felicia; Roehler, Douglas R; Smith, Tristin; Hoots, Brooke. (2024). Data Quality in State Registry Reports of Medical Cannabis Patients in the United States.. American journal of public health, 114(S8), S685-S693. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307728
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