Patients who use cannabis opt for increased potency, not quantity over time

People with or without cancer were increasingly likely, over time, to use a more potent form of cannabis for medical purposes containing higher and higher amounts of THC, note a report published this week in the Journal of Palliative Medicine.

During the two-year study, "all types of patients increased their THC dose by approximately 0.20 mg per week", which resulted in a corresponding increase in the daily THC: CBD ratio. . "Compared to non-cancer patients, these trends were not different in the cancer group for the daily dose of THC, but there were less pronounced increases in the daily THC: CBD ratio in cancer patients," summarizes the summary. of the study.

Differences were also identified in the study "Patterns of Medical Cannabis Use in Cancer Patients at a Medical Cannabis Clinic in New York State". "Our study has highlighted some major differences in demographics and the use of medical cannabis products between cancer patients (the oldest and most likely to be women) and people without cancer." Summarizes the abstract.

"Cancer patients were more likely to prefer medical forms of marijuana with more THC, which relieves cancer symptoms and side effects of treatment, including chronic pain, weight loss and nausea." , notes a press release issued by NYU Langone Health University Medical Center affiliated with the University of New York.

However, non-cancer patients, including those with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, preferred cannabis formulations that were richer in CBD. CBD "has been shown to reduce seizures and inflammation in other studies," the statement added.

The results are based on the badysis of data collected from 11,590 men and women aged 18 and over in New York, of whom 17.2% were diagnosed with cancer and used at least one cannabis product. Purchased from the Columbia Care LLC Authorized Clinic., From January 2016 to December 2017. Using the clinic data, the researchers conducted a secondary data badysis, "an badysis of demographic information, conditions and conditions. eligible symptoms, as well as the medical cannabis product used, including the THC: CBD ratios ".

Overall, the results show that "cancer and non-cancer patients used different doses of cannabis formulations with very different THC: CBD ratios. The two most common formulations contain THC and CBD, but one contains 20 times more THC than CBD, while the other has the opposite ratio. "

Although the study data do not reflect the type of cancer that cannabis buyers consumed, how much of what they bought was consumed or whether cannabis was used to treat symptoms unrelated to cannabis. cancer patients, "the statement said.

The research team also identified a preference as to how cannabis was consumed. For cancer patients, they were more likely to prefer taking oil droplets containing cannabis under the tongue than spraying their medicine.

More specifically, "the most common qualifying symptom in cancer and non-cancer patients was severe or chronic pain," notes the study's summary. "Cancer patients were more likely to use the sublingual form of cannabis (55.2%), while non-cancer patients were more likely to use the form of vaporization (44.0%)", he added.

Citing the "scarcity of solid evidence on the benefits, risks and patterns of use of marijuana products in various disease settings", this information is important to provide the best care, says Dr. Arum Kim, Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Oncology Support Program at the Perlmutter Cancer Center of the NYU School of Medicine, who funded the study.

"In the absence of robust clinical research data on marijuana for medical purposes, identifying patterns of use provides insight into how to guide patients who ask questions about marijuana use for medical purposes. and what can or can not help, "says Dr. Benjamin Benjamin, badistant professor of medicine and population health at the NYU School of Medicine.

The next steps are to "obtain more detailed information about the medical influence of marijuana on the patient's response to treatment and its functional status at different stages of the disease, as well as the risks and side effects of the treatment." treatment, "report the authors of the study.

Plus, they say, "The profiles of other cannabinoids that THC and CBD in marijuana products for medical use deserve to be deepened".