Over a third of Argentine MS patients use cannabis, but most never discuss it with their neurologist
Among 281 MS patients in Argentina, 34.2% were current cannabis users, but 54.3% had never discussed cannabis with their neurologist. Younger age, chronic pain, and alcohol use predicted cannabis use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
34.2% were current cannabis users, 22.7% former users. Among users, 31.3% used daily, 41.9% started after MS diagnosis, and 54.3% never discussed cannabis with their neurologist. Predictors of use were age under 30 (OR=2.39), chronic pain (OR=2.42), and current alcohol intake (OR=3.33).
Key Numbers
281 patients; 34.2% current users; 22.7% former users; 31.3% daily use; 41.9% started post-diagnosis; 54.3% never discussed with neurologist; 47.5% recreational use
How They Did This
Cross-sectional online survey of 281 MS patients from Argentina, assessing demographics, quality of life, fatigue, anxiety/depression, sleep, disability, and cannabis use patterns.
Why This Research Matters
The high prevalence of cannabis use among MS patients combined with low rates of physician discussion creates a dangerous information gap where patients may be making uninformed decisions about a substance that could interact with their MS treatments.
The Bigger Picture
This pattern of widespread cannabis use without physician involvement is seen across many chronic conditions and countries, suggesting a systemic failure in patient-provider communication about cannabis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Online survey with potential selection bias, self-reported cannabis use and disability, cross-sectional design, Argentina-specific context where cannabis legality is evolving.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why do most MS patients not discuss cannabis with their neurologist?
- ?Would provider-initiated conversations change use patterns?
- ?Are MS patients who use cannabis achieving better or worse disease outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 54.3% of cannabis-using MS patients never discussed it with their neurologist
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional online survey from a single country with self-reported measures
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 from Argentina, where medical cannabis regulations continue to evolve.
- Original Title:
- Use of cannabis in patients with multiple sclerosis from Argentina.
- Published In:
- Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 51, 102932 (2021)
- Authors:
- Carnero Contentti, Edgar, López, Pablo A, Criniti, Juan, Pettinicchi, Juan Pablo, Tavolini, Dario, Mainella, Carolina, Tizio, Santiago, Tkachuk, Verónica, Silva, Berenice, Caride, Alejandro, Rojas, Juan I, Alonso, Ricardo
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03047
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabis use among MS patients?
In this Argentine survey, 34.2% of MS patients were current cannabis users and another 22.7% had used it previously. Nearly a third used it daily.
Do MS patients talk to their doctors about cannabis?
Most do not. Over 54% of cannabis-using MS patients in this study had never discussed their use with their neurologist, creating a significant gap in informed medical care.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03047APA
Carnero Contentti, Edgar; López, Pablo A; Criniti, Juan; Pettinicchi, Juan Pablo; Tavolini, Dario; Mainella, Carolina; Tizio, Santiago; Tkachuk, Verónica; Silva, Berenice; Caride, Alejandro; Rojas, Juan I; Alonso, Ricardo. (2021). Use of cannabis in patients with multiple sclerosis from Argentina.. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 51, 102932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.102932
MLA
Carnero Contentti, Edgar, et al. "Use of cannabis in patients with multiple sclerosis from Argentina.." Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.102932
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Use of cannabis in patients with multiple sclerosis from Arg..." RTHC-03047. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/carnero-2021-use-of-cannabis-in
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.