About 1 in 4 multiple sclerosis patients at a Canadian clinic used cannabis products | Research

The takeaway

In a survey of MS patients at a Canadian university clinic, 19% used cannabis daily and approximately one in four patients overall reported using cannabis-based products.

MS patients, neurologists, and researchers studying cannabis use in chronic disease populations.

19% of MS patients used cannabis daily

What the researchers found

Of 188 survey respondents, 19% used cannabis daily, 6% weekly, 4% monthly, 21% rarely, and 50% never. Among regular users (daily/weekly/monthly), oral (78%) and smoked/vaporized (76%) were the most common routes. From electronic medical records of 561 patients, 19% had documented cannabis use.

Why it matters

MS patients are among the most frequent cannabis users in the chronic disease population. Understanding usage patterns helps clinicians have informed conversations with patients about risks and benefits.

The numbers in context

188 survey respondents. 19% (37) daily users. 6% (11) weekly. 4% (7) monthly. 21% (39) rarely. 50% (94) never. Among users: 78% oral, 76% smoked/vaporized, 25% topical, 9% mucosal.

How the study worked

Two-part study: anonymous survey distributed to 600 MS patients at the University of British Columbia Hospital MS clinic (January-March 2018, 188 returned), plus retrospective EMR data extraction from 561 patients.

What this study cannot tell us

Single-center study in Canada where cannabis is legal. Low survey response rate (31.3%). Anonymous survey may still underestimate use. EMR data depends on patients disclosing use to providers.

How to read the evidence

Preliminary: single-center survey with moderate response rate and no outcome data.

When this study was published

Published in 2019.

The bigger picture

Cannabis-based treatments for MS have more evidence than for most other conditions, particularly nabiximols (Sativex) for spasticity. This high prevalence of use reflects both the available evidence and the limited effectiveness of conventional symptom treatments.

Questions still open

Which MS symptoms are patients primarily targeting with cannabis? Do cannabis-using MS patients have better or worse disease outcomes? Would rates differ in jurisdictions where cannabis is less accessible?

Common questions

Is cannabis approved for MS?

In some countries, nabiximols (Sativex), a cannabis-based mouth spray, is approved for MS spasticity. General cannabis products are used off-label by many MS patients for pain, spasticity, and other symptoms.

Why do MS patients use cannabis so much?

MS causes chronic pain, spasticity, sleep problems, and other symptoms that can be difficult to manage with conventional treatments. Cannabis may address multiple symptoms simultaneously.

Read the original research

Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.

Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical, 5(3), 2055217319869360

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Schabas, A J; Vukojevic, V; Taylor, C; Thu, Z; Badyal, A; Chan, J K; Devonshire, V; Traboulsee, A; Sayao, A L; Carruthers, R. (2019). Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.. Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical, 5(3), 2055217319869360. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055217319869360