Can prescribed medical cannabis use reduce the use of other more harmful drugs?. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gittins, Rosalind; Sessa, Ben
• Is Part Of: Drug science, policy and law. Volume 6(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: addiction -- cannabis -- harm minimisation -- harm reduction -- medical cannabis -- medicinal cannabis; Drugs -- Social aspects -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Law and legislation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Drug abuse -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Periodicals; 362.290941
• DOI: 10.1177/2050324519900067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-3245

Abstract

There is growing recognition of the potential utility of medical cannabis as a harm reduction intervention. Although used for this indication in other countries, there is an absence of UK clinical guidelines that supports such an approach. We administered a short survey to gain a better understanding of the potential role of medical cannabis by 39 people who were currently using illicit cannabis and accessing a specialist substance misuse treatment service. It was identified that 36 (92.3%) respondents found that cannabis positively impacted upon their physical and/or mental wellbeing and 56.4% reported that they used less of other substances which are known to be more harmful as a result. Therefore, while we acknowledge the small sample size, given the notable potential positive impact that medical cannabis could have as a harm reduction intervention, we propose that the use should be trialled within a specialist drug treatment setting.