About 1 in 4 multiple sclerosis patients at a Canadian clinic used cannabis products
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 19% of MS patients used cannabis daily
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: single-center survey with moderate response rate and no outcome data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.
- Published In:
- Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical, 5(3), 2055217319869360 (2019)
- Authors:
- Schabas, A J, Vukojevic, V, Taylor, C, Thu, Z, Badyal, A, Chan, J K, Devonshire, V, Traboulsee, A, Sayao, A L, Carruthers, R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02281
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02281APA
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
MLA
Schabas, A J, et al. "Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort.." Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055217319869360
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis-based product use in a multiple sclerosis cohort." RTHC-02281. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/schabas-2019-cannabisbased-product-use-in
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.