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Related Experiment Videos

Becoming a medical marijuana user.

Stephen E Lankenau1, Avat Kioumarsi1, Megan Reed1

  • 1Drexel University, Dornsife School of Public Health, Department of Community Health and Prevention, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.

The International Journal on Drug Policy
|December 17, 2017
PubMed
Summary

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Becoming a medical marijuana patient (MMP) involves a career trajectory influenced by discovering marijuana's medicinal effects, social interactions, and health needs. Many discover medical use through non-medical use before becoming an MMP.

Area of Science:

  • Sociology of Health and Illness
  • Substance Use Studies
  • Cannabis Research

Background:

  • Medical marijuana use has increased since California's 1996 legalization.
  • Qualitative studies describe reasons for medical marijuana use.
  • Limited research explores the career trajectory of becoming a medical marijuana patient (MMP) and social influences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the career trajectories of young adult medical marijuana patients (MMP).
  • To understand the social influences on the transition to becoming an MMP.
  • To examine how medical marijuana use integrates into broader life paths.

Main Methods:

  • A semi-structured interview study was conducted with 40 young adult MMP (ages 18-26) in Los Angeles (2014-15).
Keywords:
Medical marijuanaQualitative researchYoung adults

Related Experiment Videos

  • Interviews focused on marijuana use practices before and after becoming an MMP.
  • Participants were categorized into trajectory groups based on their primary use patterns.

    • Main Results:

    • Three trajectory groups emerged: primarily medical users (n=30), primarily non-medical users (n=3), and transitioned users (n=7).
    • Most MMP discovered marijuana's medicinal effects during adolescent non-medical use.
    • Transition to mature MMP status involved social interactions (e.g., dispensary staff) and self-exploration, validating medical use and identity.

    Conclusions:

    • Becoming an MMP is a significant career trajectory.
    • Key influences include early discovery of medicinal effects, social interactions with proponents, evolving medical use experiences, and health condition demands.
    • Some MMPs transitioned back to non-medical use or remained non-medical users for reasons unrelated to health.