Who Uses Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Rhode Island and Why | Research

The takeaway

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.

People interested in who uses medical cannabis dispensaries and what conditions bring them there.

73% male, 68% college-educated, 89% insured

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

This is a small cross-sectional survey from two dispensaries in one state, providing preliminary descriptive data about patient demographics and motivations.

When this study was published

Published in 2015. The medical cannabis patient population has likely changed as more states have legalized and access has expanded.

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.

Questions still open

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?

Common 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.

Read the original research

Profiles of medicinal cannabis patients attending compassion centers in rhode island.

Journal of psychoactive drugs, 47(1), 18-23

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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