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Long-term medical cannabis use and risk factors for diversion: Report on physician's guidance and patients’ behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2019

Sharon R. Sznitman ,
Victoria Goldberg ,
Hedva Sheinman-Yuffe ,
Yuval Zolotov Open the ORCID record for Yuval Zolotov [Opens in a new window] ,
Ezequiel Flechter  and
Gil Bar-Sela
Sharon R. Sznitman*
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Victoria Goldberg
Affiliation:
Division of Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
Hedva Sheinman-Yuffe
Affiliation:
Division of Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
Yuval Zolotov
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Ezequiel Flechter
Affiliation:
Division of Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
Gil Bar-Sela
Affiliation:
Center for Malignant Diseases, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
*
Author for correspondence: Sharon R. Sznitman, School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Eshkol Building, Room 705, Mount Carmel 3190501, Haifa, Israel. Tel.: +972 4 8288675; fax: +972 4 8288637; sznitman@research.haifa.ac.il
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Abstract

Objectives

Various jurisdictions have legalized cannabis for medical purposes. As with all psychoactive medications, medical cannabis carries a risk of diversion and accidental ingestion. These risks may be particularly high among long-term medical cannabis patients as safety practices may become less salient to patients once the treatment becomes part of everyday life. The current study examines whether patients who have used medical cannabis for longer periods differ from those who have used for shorter periods in terms of sociodemographic background and other key aspects of medical cannabis use. Furthermore, the study examines the relationship between length of medical cannabis treatment and risk factors related to storage and diversion. Finally, the study examines the extent to which oncologists provide information to their patients about safe storage and disposal.

Methods

One hundred twenty-one medical cannabis oncology patients were interviewed face-to-face and 55 oncologists participated in a survey about safe storage and disposal practices related to medical cannabis.

Results

Length of medical cannabis treatment was related to administration by smoking and using higher monthly dosages. In terms of risk for unsafe storage and diversion, length of medical cannabis was positively associated with using cannabis outside the home and having been asked to give away medical cannabis. Physicians did not report providing information to patients regarding safe storage and disposal practices in a regular manner.

Significance of results

Results suggest that there is an ongoing risk of unsafe storage and diversion over the course of medical cannabis treatment. Oncologists may need to give more consistent and continued training in safe storage and disposal practices, especially among long-term medical cannabis patients.

Keywords

medical cannabislegalizationoncology patientsoncologistsdiversionstorageunintentional ingestion
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , February 2020 , pp. 18 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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