There is growing dependency.
A recent study suggests that individuals using marijuana for medical purposes may have an equal or even greater likelihood of developing a cannabis use disorder (CUD) compared to those who use it recreationally. Published on January 22 in JAMA Psychiatry, the research led by Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, found that medical marijuana patients had higher rates of cannabis use disorder and used cannabis more frequently than recreational users.
The study analyzed data from a 2021-2022 federal survey on drug use, which included nearly 73,000 adults who reported using cannabis. Among them, 84% used it recreationally, 9% used it solely for medical purposes, and 6% used it both recreationally and medically. The research found that approximately 35% of all participants met the criteria for cannabis use disorder, with medical marijuana users showing a higher propensity for problematic use. For example, 14% of medical marijuana users and 13% of those using both medically and recreationally had severe cannabis use disorder, compared to 8% of recreational users.
Additionally, the study noted that medical marijuana users tended to use cannabis more frequently, averaging 40% to 70% more days per year than those using it solely for recreational purposes. For instance, men aged 18-24 who used medical marijuana did so an average of 217 days per year, compared to 154 days for recreational users. This increase in frequency of use may contribute to the higher rates of cannabis use disorder observed in medical users.
The researchers emphasized that these findings indicate that medical marijuana is not associated with a reduced risk of addiction when compared to recreational use. They urged healthcare providers to assess the potential risks of addiction before recommending medical cannabis and to monitor patients for signs of cannabis use disorder if it is prescribed.
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