Who Uses Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Rhode Island and Why
A survey of 200 Rhode Island dispensary patients found most were male, college-educated, and insured, with chronic pain as the primary reason for use, and one in five reported a history of substance use disorder.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers surveyed 200 patients at two medical cannabis dispensaries in Rhode Island to understand who uses dispensaries and why.
The typical patient was male (73%), white (80%), college-educated (68%), and had health insurance (89%). Chronic pain management was the most common reason for medical cannabis use.
Patients were more likely to report significant pain interference if they were older or used cannabis as a substitute for prescription medications. Those with higher incomes reported less pain interference. About 20% had a history of drug or alcohol use disorder. Most participants said medical cannabis improved their pain symptoms and expressed interest in alternatives to opioid-based treatment.
Key Numbers
200 participants surveyed. 73% male. 80% white. 68% college-educated. 89% had health insurance. 20% had a history of substance use disorder. Patients using cannabis as a prescription substitute were 2.47x more likely to report significant pain interference.
How They Did This
Two hundred participants were recruited from two Compassion Centers in Rhode Island and completed a survey including the Brief Pain Inventory to assess pain interference. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of significant pain interference.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding who uses medical cannabis dispensaries and why helps shape policy and clinical practice. The finding that many patients use cannabis as an alternative to prescription pain medications, combined with the fact that most report symptom improvement, is relevant to ongoing debates about cannabis as an opioid alternative.
The Bigger Picture
This study provides an early snapshot of the medical cannabis patient population at a time when dispensaries were relatively new. The demographic profile challenges some stereotypes about cannabis users and highlights the overlap between medical cannabis use and the prescription opioid crisis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The sample of 200 patients from two dispensaries in one state may not represent medical cannabis patients nationally. Self-reported data may be subject to bias. The cross-sectional design cannot determine whether cannabis actually improved outcomes compared to other treatments.
Questions This Raises
- ?How do medical cannabis patient demographics compare across different states?
- ?Do patients who substitute cannabis for prescription medications achieve better or worse long-term outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 73% male, 68% college-educated, 89% insured
- Evidence Grade:
- This is a small cross-sectional survey from two dispensaries in one state, providing preliminary descriptive data about patient demographics and motivations.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2015. The medical cannabis patient population has likely changed as more states have legalized and access has expanded.
- Original Title:
- Profiles of medicinal cannabis patients attending compassion centers in rhode island.
- Published In:
- Journal of psychoactive drugs, 47(1), 18-23 (2015)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01080
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are dispensary patients mainly using cannabis for pain?
In this study, chronic pain was the most common reason for medical cannabis use. However, patient profiles vary by state and over time as qualifying conditions have expanded in many jurisdictions.
Is a history of substance use disorder common among medical cannabis patients?
About 20% of participants in this study reported a prior drug or alcohol use disorder. This highlights the importance of screening and monitoring in medical cannabis programs, though the rate may differ in other patient populations.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01080APA
Zaller, Nickolas; Topletz, Ariel; Frater, Susan; Yates, Gail; Lally, Michelle. (2015). Profiles of medicinal cannabis patients attending compassion centers in rhode island.. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 47(1), 18-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2014.999901
MLA
Zaller, Nickolas, et al. "Profiles of medicinal cannabis patients attending compassion centers in rhode island.." Journal of psychoactive drugs, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2014.999901
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Profiles of medicinal cannabis patients attending compassion..." RTHC-01080. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/zaller-2015-profiles-of-medicinal-cannabis
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.