rethinkTHC Search
Menu
Study breakdown

Detailed look at what medical cannabis products patients actually buy in New York

Cross SectionalModerate evidence
The takeaway

A cross-sectional study characterized the cannabis products purchased from a single New York State manufacturer, providing rare real-world data on medical cannabis product selection patterns.

Medical cannabis regulators, dispensary operators, clinicians, and health services researchers.

Real purchase data from a regulated NY dispensary system

What the researchers found

This study examined medical cannabis product purchases in New York State from dispensaries operated by a single integrated manufacturer, characterizing what products patients actually selected in a tightly regulated market.

Why it matters

Most medical cannabis research relies on self-report. This study uses actual purchase data from a regulated market, providing objective insight into patient product preferences.

The numbers in context

New York State dispensary purchase data from a single integrated manufacturer-retailer. Specific product details characterized.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study of medical cannabis product purchases made in New York State dispensaries operated by a single licensed manufacturer and retail company. Published in JAMA Network Open.

What this study cannot tell us

Single manufacturer in one state. New York had one of the most restrictive medical cannabis programs at the time. May not represent patient preferences in less regulated markets.

How to read the evidence

Cross-sectional study using objective purchase data from a regulated market, published in JAMA Network Open.

When this study was published

Published in 2022.

The bigger picture

As medical cannabis markets mature, understanding actual purchasing behavior helps regulators, clinicians, and researchers align product availability with patient needs.

Questions still open

  • Do patients in less restrictive states choose different products? Does product type influence treatment outcomes?

Common questions

What medical cannabis products do patients actually buy?
This study used real purchase data from New York State dispensaries to characterize product selection, providing objective data rather than relying on patient self-report.
Does the type of medical cannabis product matter?
By documenting what patients actually purchase in a tightly regulated market, this study helps establish baseline data for future research on whether product type affects outcomes.

Read the original research

Characterization of Cannabis Products Purchased for Medical Use in New York State.

JAMA network open, 5(8), e2227735

Citation

Kritikos, Alexandra F; Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo. (2022). Characterization of Cannabis Products Purchased for Medical Use in New York State.. JAMA network open, 5(8), e2227735. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.27735

Explore the wider topic