Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Most medical cannabis patients who completed a survey reported benefits from the medication, according to the results of a voluntary survey of patients enrolled in Minnesota's medical cannabis program during its first three months.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) survey asked patients using medical cannabis to rate their level of benefit from 1 to 7. Benefit levels were classified into no or little perceived benefit, score of 1 or 2; mild or moderate perceived benefit, score of 3 to 5; and significant benefit, score of 6 or 7.
About 90 percent of patients reported mild to significant benefits, a score of 3 or greater. Only about 20 percent of patients reported side effects. The harms reported were not life-threatening, though four patients reported an increase in seizures.
Other side effects mirrored those reported in clinical trials of medical cannabis conducted outside of Minnesota, including dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, feeling high, sleepiness, stomach pains, burning sensation in the mouth and paranoia.
For most patients, the biggest reported drawback of medical cannabis was affordability. Seventy-three percent reported the cost to be unaffordable.
"These survey data are based on a small sample of patients and should not be confused with a clinical trial," said Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger. "However, these results do highlight Minnesota's data-focused approach to medical cannabis and the fact that patients are benefiting from the program."
The top three conditions for medical cannabis use were severe muscle spasms, seizures and cancer. Of these three, cancer had the highest patient-reported benefit scores. Patients and health care practitioners reported benefits for all of the approved conditions.
MDH sent the survey to the 435 patients who made their first medical cannabis purchases during the first three months of the program, July 1 to Sept. 30, 2015. Of the 435 patients, 241 (55 percent) completed the survey.
In addition, MDH sent a survey to the 345 health care practitioners, including physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, who certified patients as eligible for medical cannabis. Of these, 94 health care practitioners (27 percent) completed surveys for 169 patients (39 percent).
About 77 percent of respondent health care practitioners reported seeing a mild to significant benefit, a score of 3 or higher, for their patients.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Most Patients Report Benefits From Medical Cannabis
Author: Echo Press
Contact: 320-763-3133
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Echo Press
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) survey asked patients using medical cannabis to rate their level of benefit from 1 to 7. Benefit levels were classified into no or little perceived benefit, score of 1 or 2; mild or moderate perceived benefit, score of 3 to 5; and significant benefit, score of 6 or 7.
About 90 percent of patients reported mild to significant benefits, a score of 3 or greater. Only about 20 percent of patients reported side effects. The harms reported were not life-threatening, though four patients reported an increase in seizures.
Other side effects mirrored those reported in clinical trials of medical cannabis conducted outside of Minnesota, including dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, feeling high, sleepiness, stomach pains, burning sensation in the mouth and paranoia.
For most patients, the biggest reported drawback of medical cannabis was affordability. Seventy-three percent reported the cost to be unaffordable.
"These survey data are based on a small sample of patients and should not be confused with a clinical trial," said Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger. "However, these results do highlight Minnesota's data-focused approach to medical cannabis and the fact that patients are benefiting from the program."
The top three conditions for medical cannabis use were severe muscle spasms, seizures and cancer. Of these three, cancer had the highest patient-reported benefit scores. Patients and health care practitioners reported benefits for all of the approved conditions.
MDH sent the survey to the 435 patients who made their first medical cannabis purchases during the first three months of the program, July 1 to Sept. 30, 2015. Of the 435 patients, 241 (55 percent) completed the survey.
In addition, MDH sent a survey to the 345 health care practitioners, including physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, who certified patients as eligible for medical cannabis. Of these, 94 health care practitioners (27 percent) completed surveys for 169 patients (39 percent).
About 77 percent of respondent health care practitioners reported seeing a mild to significant benefit, a score of 3 or higher, for their patients.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Most Patients Report Benefits From Medical Cannabis
Author: Echo Press
Contact: 320-763-3133
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Echo Press
