@article{ref1,
title="Authorization patterns, safety, and effectiveness of medical cannabis in Quebec",
journal="Cannabis and cannabinoid research",
year="2021",
author="Kalaba, Maja and MacNair, Laura and Peters, Erica N. and Eglit, Graham M. L. and Rapin, Lucile and El Hage, Cynthia and Prosk, Erin and Ware, Mark A.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Despite increasing demand for data, little is known about the authorization patterns, safety, and effectiveness of medical cannabis products. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a 2 year observational study of adult patients who were legally authorized a medical cannabis product from a single licensed producer; we captured and analyzed authorized cannabis use patterns by cannabinoid profile (tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]-dominant; cannabidiol [CBD]-dominant; and balanced (THC:CBD) and clinical outcomes using standardized outcome measures every 3 months for 12 months at a network of medical cannabis clinics in Quebec, Canada. <br><br>RESULTS: We recruited 585 patients (average age 56.5 years), of whom 61% identified as female and 85% reported pain as their primary complaint. Over 12 months, there was a significant increase in the number of products authorized (Z=2.59, p=0.01). The proportion of authorizations for a THC-dominant or CBD-dominant product increased relative to the proportion of authorizations for a balanced (THC:CBD) product (all p<0.01). Symptom improvement over time was observed for pain, tiredness, drowsiness, anxiety, and well-being. Patients authorized THC-dominant products exhibited less symptom improvement for anxiety and well-being relative to those authorized CBD-dominant or balanced (THC:CBD) products. Medical cannabis was well tolerated across all product profiles. <br><br>CONCLUSION: These real-world data reveal changes in medical cannabis authorization patterns and suggest that symptom improvement may vary by cannabinoid profile over 12 months of follow-up.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2578-5125",
doi="10.1089/can.2020.0140",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0140"
}