Younger patients use medical cannabis to treat anxiety, PTSD and chronic pain, study finds

A recent study published in Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics sheds light on the’medical use of cannabis by minors and young adults in the United States.

This research, conducted by academics from DePaul University's Department of Health Sciences, sheds light on the demographics and medical conditions that drive young patients to seek cannabis as a therapeutic option, This underlines the importance of developing a global understanding of this under-studied group.

Demographic characteristics of young cannabis users

The study, which analyzed 13,855 patient records from Leafwell, a telehealth company that facilitates access to medical cannabis, reveals that a significant number of medical cannabis users in the United States are under 21.

Specifically, 5.7 % of these patients were minors under the age of 18, while the remaining 94.3 % were young adults aged 18 to 20. This distinction is crucial, as it highlights the variations in eligibility requirements between these two age groups.

Key eligibility criteria

L’anxiety, the chronic pain and the post-traumatic stress disorder have emerged as the most common conditions affecting young patients, making echoes the reasons given by older adults looking to purchase medical cannabis.

It is interesting to note that minors are more likely to use cannabis for conditions such as cancer and the’epilepsy, while young adults are more likely to declare depression, the chronic pain or the’insomnia as a primary ailment.

The study also notes that the prevalence of these conditions varies from state to state. For example’anxiety is the most frequently reported condition in states such as the California, the Massachusetts, the New Jersey, l’Oklahoma and the Pennsylvania, while the chronic pain is more often cited in the Michigan, the Montana, l’Ohio and the’Illinois.

Implications for medical cannabis regulation and research

The results of this study have significant implications for the development of regulatory frameworks and safety guidelines for the use of medical marijuana among young people.

As Emily Fisher, CEO of Leafwell, points out, «understanding this patient group and how cannabis is used as medicine is essential to developing safe and effective treatment protocols.» This study represents an essential step in improving our knowledge of young medical cannabis users and ensuring that their unique needs are met with thoughtful and precise care.

In addition, Dr. June Chin, Leafwell's Chief Medical Officer, stresses the importance of understanding the emotional, social and psychological reasons behind the disease. why young people turn to cannabis. It recommends open, non-judgmental conversations with teenagers and young adults about cannabis use, to provide them with the advice they need to make informed decisions.

«A balanced, evidence-based approach is essential when considering medical cannabis for younger populations, while addressing the root causes of its use,» she says.

The need for further research

Despite the progress made by this study, the authors emphasize the need to continue research into the use of medical marijuana in minors and young adults.

While the National Academies of Sciences have acknowledged the existence of substantial evidence in favour of the use of cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain and limited evidence in the treatment of PTSD and the’anxiety in adults, there remains a significant gap in pediatric-specific evidence. This lack of data is largely due to the difficulties associated with including minors in clinical trials.

To fill this gap, the study recommends a two-pronged research approach. First, clinical studies should aim to establish the efficacy of cannabis-based treatments for young people, including side effects potential route of administration preferable and specific dosage requirements.

Second, researchers should integrate real-world data from self-reported population-level patient databases and electronic health information. This approach would enable comprehensive data to be collected on a larger scale, providing physicians and public health advocates with the information they need to integrate medical cannabis into established medical guidelines.

Trends in cannabis use among young people

The majority of research on cannabis use among young people has focused on consumption patterns rather than medical benefits, particularly in the context of legalization. Contrary to the concerns of many critics, recent evidence suggests that cannabis legalization has not led to an increase in consumption among young people.

A federal report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that the cannabis use in the past year among minors (aged 12 to 20) has generally declined since the states have begun to legalize the substance for adult use. In particular, the percentage of young people aged 12 to 17 who have ever tried cannabis fell by 18 % between 2014 and 2023.