%0 Journal Article %T Authorization patterns, safety, and effectiveness of medical cannabis in Quebec %J Cannabis and cannabinoid research %D 2021 %A Kalaba, Maja %A MacNair, Laura %A Peters, Erica N. %A Eglit, Graham M. L. %A Rapin, Lucile %A El Hage, Cynthia %A Prosk, Erin %A Ware, Mark A. %V ePub %N ePub %P ePub-ePub %X INTRODUCTION: Despite increasing demand for data, little is known about the authorization patterns, safety, and effectiveness of medical cannabis products.

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.

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.

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.

Language: en

%G en %I Mary Ann Liebert Publishers %@ 2578-5125 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0140