Journal article
Cannabis Practices and Cannabinoid/Terpene Preferences in Medical Cannabis Patients Who Use Cannabis for Pain and Anxiety
Journal of psychoactive drugs, pp 1-12
02 Jul 2025
PMID: 40605183
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Therapeutic potential of cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis products is complicated by the possibility to alleviate pain yet exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Little is known about how cannabis practices, and preferences for cannabinoids and terpenes differ among medical cannabis patients who use cannabis to relieve pain, or anxiety, or both. A concurrent explanatory mixed-methods design was utilized. The quantitative analytical sample (
= 1,060) consisted of participants who self-reported past 90-day cannabis use to relieve: physical pain only (14.8%), feeling uptight/anxious only (29.5%), or both conditions (55.7%). We examined between-group differences in demographic variables, cannabis practices and preferences. Qualitative interviews with a subsample of patients (
= 39) were analyzed thematically regarding cannabinoid/terpene preferences to contextualize quantitative results. Compared to the
group, pain groups were more likely to use high potency flower/extract products (i.e., moon rocks/caviar), topicals/creams and CBD; the
group was more likely to use Rick Simpson Oil and look for CBD, CBN, CBG and CBC. Both quantitative and qualitative data supported preferences for CBD and caryophyllene for pain relief, myrcene for pain and anxiety relief, while
group was less likely to prefer terpinolene. Future studies need to assess if cannabis practices and preferences are associated with symptom improvements over time.
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Details
- Title
- Cannabis Practices and Cannabinoid/Terpene Preferences in Medical Cannabis Patients Who Use Cannabis for Pain and Anxiety
- Creators
- Ekaterina V Fedorova - Drexel UniversityVictoria Ryan - Drexel UniversityJanna Ataiants - Drexel UniversityJim Seaberg - Drexel UniversityMaddy Finkelstein - Drexel UniversityBenjamin F Cocchiaro - Drexel UniversityStephen E Lankenau - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of psychoactive drugs, pp 1-12
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- Drexel University and Agronomed Biologics LLC / Verano Holdings Corp
This work was supported through a contract between Drexel University and Agronomed Biologics LLC / Verano Holdings Corp. (PA DOH Medical Marijuana Act, Chapter 20). https:// www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/medical-marijuana/ clinical-research.html
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- MD (Doctor of Medicine) Program; Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001522135700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105009732304
- Other Identifier
- 991022061554204721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Clinical
- Substance Abuse