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Self-Reported Medical and Nonmedical Cannabis Use: Results from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 14 States

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Abstract

As policies legalizing adult cannabis use increase in the United States, understanding and characterizing the proportion of individuals consuming cannabis for medical and nonmedical purposes is important to inform targeted health education efforts. Data came from 7672 adults (> = 18 years) with past month cannabis use who responded to questions about reason for cannabis use on the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey in 14 states. State and aggregated data were analyzed using weighted frequencies for descriptive analyses, and prevalence ratios were computed to identify demographic and substance use characteristics associated with medical only use or use for both medical and nonmedical reasons (vs. nonmedical use). Overall, 28.6% (95% CI: 26.7, 30.4) of adults who use cannabis reported using cannabis medically, 34.2% (95% CI: 32.3, 36.2) nonmedically, and 37.2% (95% CI: 35.2, 39.2) both medically and nonmedically. Characteristics associated with medical only use (compared with nonmedical only use) included being female; aged > 45 years; out of work, a homemaker, or unable to work; having daily or near daily cannabis use; having past month cigarette use; having no past month alcohol use; self-reporting poor health; and ever having been diagnosed with certain chronic diseases. Medical only use of cannabis is the least prevalent reason for use; use for both medical and nonmedical reasons is the most prevalent. Monitoring reasons for cannabis use can aid states in understanding differences between medical and nonmedical cannabis users, providing context to use patterns, and targeting health education messages to appropriate audiences.

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Data Availability

Data used in this study are available from: https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/annual_data.htm.

Notes

  1. A number of additional states have medical cannabis programs that allow for use only of CBD or low-THC products, but not a broader range of cannabis products.

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Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Gillian L. Schauer

  2. Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Gillian L. Schauer

  3. Cannabis Strategy Unit, Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Douglas R. Roehler & Brooke E. Hoots

Authors
  1. Gillian L. Schauer
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  2. Douglas R. Roehler
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  3. Brooke E. Hoots
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Contributions

GLS conceptualized the study, conducted the data analyses, and drafted the manuscript. BH and DRR reviewed the data analyses, discussed the data findings and implications, and edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gillian L. Schauer.

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The Authors report no conflict of interest.

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This study used deidentified publicly available data and did not require any ethics approval.

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Schauer, G.L., Roehler, D.R. & Hoots, B.E. Self-Reported Medical and Nonmedical Cannabis Use: Results from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 14 States. J Community Health 47, 641–649 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-01049-1

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