A systematic review of 8 qualitative studies identified six themes of negative medical cannabis experiences: approval difficulties, administrative barriers, social stigma, unintended effects, adverse effects, and dependence concerns.
Read this if you use medical cannabis and want to understand common negative experiences, or if you are a clinician seeking to improve MC patient care.
6 themesNegative experience themes spanning administrative barriers, social stigma, adverse effects, and dependence concerns
What the researchers found
From 1,230 initial articles, 8 qualitative studies were included. Six themes of negative experiences emerged, grouped into two meta-themes: (1) administrative and social aspects (approval difficulties, administrative barriers, social perception/stigma) and (2) effects of cannabis treatment (misuse/widespread effects, adverse effects, dependence/addiction concerns). Patients reported struggles with the approval process, social stigma from using a historically illegal substance, concerns about unintended effects beyond the target condition, and fear of developing dependence.
Why it matters
Most medical cannabis research focuses on efficacy and safety. This review centers patients' lived experiences, revealing that social and administrative burdens may be as significant as medical side effects in affecting treatment satisfaction.
The numbers in context
- 1,230 articles screened
- 8 qualitative studies included
- 6 themes identified
- 2 meta-themes: administrative/social aspects and treatment effects
- PRISMA guidelines followed
- CASP checklist for quality assessment
How the study worked
Systematic review of qualitative studies following PRISMA guidelines. Searched PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE. Quality assessed using CASP qualitative checklist. Thematic analysis of included studies.
Who was studied
Medical cannabis patients across 8 qualitative studies
What this study cannot tell us
Only 8 studies met inclusion criteria, reflecting the limited qualitative literature. Physician-prescribed MC only — excludes self-medicators. Cultural contexts of included studies may not generalize.
How to read the evidence
Systematic review of qualitative studies with quality assessment. Provides structured patient experience data but limited by small number of included studies.
When this study was published
Published in 2023. Addresses an under-studied dimension of medical cannabis treatment.
The bigger picture
The negative experiences of medical cannabis patients reflect broader tensions between an evolving legal/medical landscape and persistent social stigma. Addressing these non-medical barriers is essential for effective treatment programs.
Questions still open
- Would reducing administrative barriers improve treatment outcomes?
- How does MC stigma compare to stigma for other controlled substance medications like opioids?
- Do patients' dependence concerns reflect actual addiction risk or societal messaging?
Read the original research
Negative experiences of patients using medicinal cannabis: A systematic review of qualitative studies.
Journal of clinical nursing, 32(17-18), 5607-5618
Citation
Gliksberg, Or; Kushnir, Talma; Sznitman, Sharon R; Lev-Ran, Shaul; Brill, Silviu; Amit, Ben H; Feingold, Daniel. (2023). Negative experiences of patients using medicinal cannabis: A systematic review of qualitative studies.. Journal of clinical nursing, 32(17-18), 5607-5618. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16653