Dutch Survey Confirms Most Medical Cannabis Users Bypass the Prescribed System
A cross-sectional survey of Dutch self-medicating cannabis users confirmed most rely on non-prescribed sources despite one of the world's oldest medical cannabis programs, citing cost and product access barriers.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Most people using cannabis medicinally in the Netherlands continue to rely on non-prescribed sources. The survey documented patterns of use, motivations, perceived effectiveness, and barriers to accessing the prescribed system, quantifying the qualitative findings from companion research.
Key Numbers
Survey conducted January-April 2023. Netherlands context. Convenience sample. Assessed use patterns, motives, perceived effectiveness, and access barriers.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional online survey conducted January-April 2023 using convenience sampling of individuals self-medicating with non-prescribed cannabis in the Netherlands.
Why This Research Matters
This quantitative companion to the qualitative Dutch study (RTHC-07732) provides numbers to support the finding that medical cannabis programs can fail to serve their intended population when structural barriers remain unaddressed.
The Bigger Picture
Together with the qualitative companion study, this research provides a comprehensive picture of why one of the world's longest-running medical cannabis programs still fails to reach most of its potential users.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Convenience sampling limits representativeness. Self-selected participants likely biased toward those with barriers to formal access. Cross-sectional design. Online survey may miss populations without internet access.
Questions This Raises
- ?What proportion of Dutch medical cannabis users have tried the prescribed system?
- ?Would specific policy changes increase prescribed cannabis uptake?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional survey providing quantitative data to complement qualitative findings, but convenience sampling limits to moderate.
- Study Age:
- Survey conducted January-April 2023 in the Netherlands.
- Original Title:
- Medicinal use of non-prescribed cannabis: a cross-sectional survey on patterns of use, motives for use, and treatment access in the Netherlands.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research, 8(1), 6 (2025)
- Authors:
- Strada, Lisa(2), Korteling, Simone, Vergeer, Mark, Oomen, Pieter
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07733
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How do Dutch people get medical cannabis?
Despite having a legal prescribed system for over 20 years, most people who use cannabis medicinally in the Netherlands obtain it from non-prescribed sources.
Why is the Dutch system relevant to other countries?
As one of the oldest medical cannabis programs, the Netherlands demonstrates that long-term program existence alone does not guarantee patient uptake, offering lessons for newer programs.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07733APA
Strada, Lisa; Korteling, Simone; Vergeer, Mark; Oomen, Pieter. (2025). Medicinal use of non-prescribed cannabis: a cross-sectional survey on patterns of use, motives for use, and treatment access in the Netherlands.. Journal of cannabis research, 8(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00355-y
MLA
Strada, Lisa, et al. "Medicinal use of non-prescribed cannabis: a cross-sectional survey on patterns of use, motives for use, and treatment access in the Netherlands.." Journal of cannabis research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00355-y
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Medicinal use of non-prescribed cannabis: a cross-sectional ..." RTHC-07733. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/strada-2025-medicinal-use-of-nonprescribed
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.