Two-Thirds of Danish Medical Cannabis Patients Report Moderate to Large Benefits
67% of Danish medical cannabis patients reported moderate to large treatment effects, but over 10% experienced three or more side effects, and side effects were equally common regardless of perceived benefit.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 1,044 Danish medical cannabis users, 67% reported moderate to large perceived benefit. Over half experienced side effects, with more than 10% reporting three or more. Side effects were equally common among those reporting strong benefit and those reporting little to no benefit. Side effects clustered into four groups: cognitive dysfunction, dizziness, xerostomia (dry mouth), and feeling high.
Key Numbers
1,044 patients surveyed. 67% reported moderate to large effect. Over 50% experienced side effects. 10%+ reported 3+ side effects. Four side effect clusters identified.
How They Did This
Danish nationwide online survey in 2020 among patients with predefined indications (n=258) and other indications (n=786). Perceived benefit and side effects were self-reported. Heat plot correlation and exploratory factor analysis identified side effect patterns.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding the side effect landscape is crucial for informed decisions about medical cannabis. The finding that side effects are unrelated to perceived benefit means patients can't assume that experiencing benefit means they'll avoid side effects, or vice versa.
The Bigger Picture
This Danish data adds to the growing international picture of medical cannabis in practice. The independence of side effects from perceived benefit suggests that side effects and therapeutic effects may operate through different mechanisms.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-report data. Online survey may not represent all patients. Cross-sectional design. No verification of diagnoses or cannabis products used.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could different formulations reduce side effects while maintaining benefit?
- ?Do the four side effect clusters correspond to different cannabinoid profiles?
- ?How do Danish patient experiences compare to other countries?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 67% reported moderate to large effect; side effects unrelated to benefit
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large nationwide survey with structured methodology, but self-report data and cross-sectional design.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025, with survey data from 2020.
- Original Title:
- Patients' perceived benefit and side effects from the use of medicinal cannabis - a cross-sectional survey study from Denmark.
- Published In:
- Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (2025)
- Authors:
- Rosenbæk, Frederik(3), Pedersen, Line Bjørnskov(3), Wehberg, Sonja(2), Nielsen, Jesper Bo, Søndergaard, Jens
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07524
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How effective is medical cannabis according to patients?
In this Danish survey, 67% of patients reported a moderate to large effect from medical cannabis. Benefits were reported across multiple diagnostic indications.
What are the most common side effects of medical cannabis?
Side effects clustered into four groups: cognitive dysfunction, dizziness, dry mouth, and feeling high. Over 10% of patients experienced three or more side effects, regardless of how much benefit they perceived.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07524APA
Rosenbæk, Frederik; Pedersen, Line Bjørnskov; Wehberg, Sonja; Nielsen, Jesper Bo; Søndergaard, Jens. (2025). Patients' perceived benefit and side effects from the use of medicinal cannabis - a cross-sectional survey study from Denmark.. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2025-0277
MLA
Rosenbæk, Frederik, et al. "Patients' perceived benefit and side effects from the use of medicinal cannabis - a cross-sectional survey study from Denmark.." Journal of complementary & integrative medicine, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2025-0277
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Patients' perceived benefit and side effects from the use of..." RTHC-07524. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rosenb-k-2025-patients-perceived-benefit-and
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.