People With Disabilities Were More Likely to Use Medical Cannabis, Regardless of Social Support | Research

The takeaway

Among 822 adults with anxiety or depression, those with self-reported disabilities had higher odds of using medical cannabis regardless of their social support levels, while for non-disabled individuals, more social support was linked to less medical cannabis use.

Disability advocates, mental health clinicians, medical cannabis providers, and health equity researchers.

What the researchers found

A significant interaction between disability and social support showed that social support was associated with lower odds of medical cannabis use among those without disability (p=0.038), but had no effect on medical cannabis use among those with disability (p=0.525). Disability and social support were not associated with recreational cannabis use.

Why it matters

This study reveals that people with disabilities may turn to medical cannabis as a healthcare resource that social support cannot substitute for. Unlike non-disabled individuals who may reduce cannabis use when they have strong support networks, disabled individuals may use cannabis to manage symptoms that social support alone cannot address.

The numbers in context

N = 822. 51.1% self-reported disability. 24.9% past-month medical cannabis use. 25.4% past-month recreational cannabis use. Racially diverse: 25.3% American Indian, 25.1% Black, 25.1% White, 24.6% Latinx. 64.6% female. Mean age 38.3.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional baseline survey of 822 adults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression participating in a clinical trial. Self-reported disability, perceived social support, and past-month medical and recreational cannabis use were assessed. Regression models adjusted for race/ethnicity, gender, age, and income.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional — cannot determine causation. Self-reported disability (broad definition). All participants had anxiety/depression, limiting generalizability. Cannot distinguish specific disabilities. Clinical trial participants may not represent general population.

How to read the evidence

Diverse cross-sectional sample from a clinical trial with appropriate statistical modeling, but baseline-only data and self-reported measures.

When this study was published

Published 2025.

The bigger picture

As medical cannabis becomes more accessible, understanding why people with disabilities use it — and that social support doesn't diminish their use — suggests these individuals may have symptom management needs that mainstream healthcare isn't adequately meeting.

Questions still open

What specific symptoms are disabled individuals managing with medical cannabis? Would improved healthcare access reduce medical cannabis use in this population? Should disability status inform clinical cannabis recommendations?

Common questions

Why don't support networks reduce medical cannabis use for disabled individuals?

Researchers suggest that people with disabilities may use medical cannabis to manage physical symptoms, chronic pain, or functional limitations that social support cannot address — it's serving a healthcare function, not a coping mechanism.

Is recreational cannabis use different?

Yes — neither disability nor social support was associated with recreational cannabis use. The disability-specific pattern was only seen with medical use, supporting the idea that disabled individuals are using cannabis therapeutically.

Read the original research

Associations of Disability and Social Support with Cannabis Use Among Adults with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms.

Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(3), 103-115

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Vogel, Erin A; Romm, Katelyn F; McMaughan, D J; Zvolensky, Michael J; Garey, Lorra; Businelle, Michael S. (2025). Associations of Disability and Social Support with Cannabis Use Among Adults with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms.. Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 8(3), 103-115. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2025/000305