What Do Patients Actually Think About Medical Cannabis? A Review of 40 Qualitative Studies
Across 40 qualitative studies, patients generally report positive experiences with medical cannabis but face persistent barriers including stigma, high costs, and a gap between their experiences and the medical community's cautious stance.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Three major themes emerged: patients described therapeutic potential and tolerability across various conditions, used diverse administration methods tailored to individual needs, but faced significant barriers including stigma, high costs, and bureaucratic delays. Patients often viewed prescription cannabis as superior to conventional medicines, though safety concerns persisted.
Key Numbers
849 records screened, 40 included. Key barriers: stigma, high costs, bureaucratic delays. Key facilitators: healthcare provider support, family support, peer communities.
How They Did This
Scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Systematic search of EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. From 849 records, 40 met inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis identified key themes.
Why This Research Matters
Most cannabis research focuses on clinical outcomes, missing the lived experience of patients. This review captures the patient perspective at scale, revealing a consistent gap between generally positive patient experiences and the medical community's cautious approach.
The Bigger Picture
The gap between patient experience and medical caution creates a challenging dynamic. Patients who find cannabis helpful may lose trust in providers who dismiss their experiences, potentially leading to self-medication without medical guidance.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Scoping review captures breadth but not depth of individual study quality. Qualitative research reflects subjective experiences. Publication bias may favor positive narratives. Geographic and cultural variation.
Questions This Raises
- ?How can the gap between patient experience and medical caution be bridged?
- ?What role should patient-reported outcomes play in cannabis policy decisions?
- ?Do patients' positive perceptions reflect actual clinical benefit or placebo effects?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 40 qualitative studies reveal a persistent patient-provider experience gap
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: broad scoping review with systematic search, but synthesizing subjective qualitative data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- Patient experiences and perspectives regarding medicinal cannabis: a qualitative scoping review.
- Published In:
- Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (2025)
- Authors:
- Rosenbæk, Frederik(3), Nielsen, Jesper Bo(3), Pedersen, Line Bjørnskov(3), Stewart-Ferrer, Sif Schmidt, Søndergaard, Jens, Williams, Jessica Joan, Hvidt, Elisabeth Assing
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07523
Evidence Hierarchy
Maps out the available research on a broad question.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What do patients think about medical cannabis?
Across 40 qualitative studies, patients generally report positive experiences with therapeutic benefits and tolerability. Many view it as superior to conventional treatments, though safety concerns remain.
What are the biggest barriers to using medical cannabis?
Patients consistently report stigma, high costs, and bureaucratic delays as major barriers. Support from healthcare providers, family, and peer communities can help overcome these obstacles.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07523APA
Rosenbæk, Frederik; Nielsen, Jesper Bo; Pedersen, Line Bjørnskov; Stewart-Ferrer, Sif Schmidt; Søndergaard, Jens; Williams, Jessica Joan; Hvidt, Elisabeth Assing. (2025). Patient experiences and perspectives regarding medicinal cannabis: a qualitative scoping review.. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2025-0233
MLA
Rosenbæk, Frederik, et al. "Patient experiences and perspectives regarding medicinal cannabis: a qualitative scoping review.." Journal of complementary & integrative medicine, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2025-0233
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Patient experiences and perspectives regarding medicinal can..." RTHC-07523. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rosenb-k-2025-patient-experiences-and-perspectives
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.