Hard News: Who are the medicinal cannabis users?
43 Responses
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The combination of (online questionnaire delivery) + (higher-than-average earners) + (knowledgeable about the topic) suggests a likely bias in the survey responses towards the educated middle class, and so (much as the results indicate) directed away from the stereotypical cannabis user. (Though specifically medicinal use should also skew older and, as a result, higher-income, anyway.)
But the problem then is the lack of reliable data to correct such a bias. Historical arrest statistics, for example, are certainly biased in their own right (away from educated middle-class users), and form a large part of what created the stereotype in the first place, so we should not be surprised if the two sources don’t agree. -
linger, in reply to
So what you’re describing is a coping mechanism whereby the cannabis allows some plausible deniability regarding the dementia?
That may well be of some psychological benefit, but most researchers would hesitate to assign “medical value” on that basis alone. -
Shane Le Brun, in reply to
I agree RE Bias, as a charity doing things on a shoestring budget calls had to be made, nevertheless the data, while self-selecting is better than the status quo which was absolutely no data on the finer points of use.
Medical Cannabis research of every kind seems to be thwarted by something or other.
You cant even blind a trial where THC is involved, 'cause when you on cannabis, you will know about it..... -
Anyone looking to up-skill their doctor could point them to this. Apologies if the link is weird.
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In this article, where the survey wasn't about medicinal cannabis,
https://www.nzma.org.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/49405/Pledger-2069-NZMJ-1433.pdf
Recreational users were more likely to be younger, male and Maori then medicinal users but males and Maori were still more likely to be medicinal users then females and non-Maori. That kinda makes sense - a person is more likely to use it medicinally if they have had prior experience or have seen other's experience.Medicinal users were more likely than recreational users to be on a sickness or invalids benefit but also more likely to be in the least financially deprived category - so it looks like there are at least two different groups of people using. Speculating a bit wildly I would suggest it splits into those who can't afford medicine and those that can't find a medicine that works.
Upper, middle-class women seem to be more comfortable with alternative medicines across the board so I would expect there to be some cross-over into medicinal cannabis use.
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linger, in reply to
at least two different groups of people using
I think you’re right, medicinal users are more likely to be a collection of clusters than a single homogenous group. Not least because of barriers to access leading to disparate types of cannabis source (as you point out, past recreational users may have an access advantage).
Corollary 1: different survey techniques / data sources will capture different clusters with different levels of success (resulting in different overall demographic profiles for ethnicity, income, and range of medical conditions cited).
Corollary 2: we should be very cautious about making generalisations from any one sample. Especially, look for clusterings before calculating averages. -
The MoH has just released their consultation document on medicinal cannabis. There's a lot to take in but I see they're suggesting defining any grow under 200 sqm as "small". That's twice the size of our house!
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Corollary 1: different survey techniques / data sources will capture different clusters with different levels of success (resulting in different overall demographic profiles for ethnicity, income, and range of medical conditions cited).
There wasn't really a survey technique possible here, it was just a matter of letting people know, in the first place via existing MC networks on Facebook etc. So what we might be getting a picture of is the medicinal cannabis community, as such. Plus my audience :-)
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linger, in reply to
Well, yes; and that social networking approach is the sampling technique in this case. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s better to be explicit about the possible impact when interpreting the results. E.g. more fully networked users (and/or your readers!) are likely to be more knowledgeable about the specifics of compound ratios.
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Bob McCoskrie's doing his yeah but no but routine on medicinal cannabis again: https://www.familyfirst.org.nz/2019/07/medicinal-cannabis-false-hope-for-chronic-pain-sufferers-pain-doctors/
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Joe Boden, in reply to
Bob McCoskrie’s doing his yeah but no but routine on medicinal cannabis again: https://www.familyfirst.org.nz/2019/07/medicinal-cannabis-false-hope-for-chronic-pain-sufferers-pain-doctors/
It’s starting to look like FF and the National Party are being backed by Pharma, who were the largest financial backers of the anti-cannabis lobby in the US. It’s well past time to have some investigative journalism into the extent to which the Pharma lobby is already at work here.
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Apparently, cannabis law reform initiatives are being directly funded by liberal US billionaire George Soros!!! Oh look, everyone... conspiracy theories...: https://www.familyfirst.org.nz/2019/07/george-soros-real-crusade-legalizing-marijuana-in-the-u-s-and-nz/
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Joe Boden, in reply to
Apparently, cannabis law reform initiatives are being directly funded by liberal US billionaire George Soros!!! Oh look, everyone… conspiracy theories…: https://www.familyfirst.org.nz/2019/07/george-soros-real-crusade-legalizing-marijuana-in-the-u-s-and-nz/</q>
Where's my cheque? :D
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andin, in reply to
Its in the mail ;-)
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Family First telling porkies about cannabis psychosis?! Can it be…well, yes, it is: https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/26-07-2019/family-first-rebuked-for-non-fact-based-activity-over-cannabis-psychosis-claims/
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Joe Boden, in reply to
Family First telling porkies about cannabis psychosis?! Can it be…well, yes, it is: https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/26-07-2019/family-first-rebuked-for-non-fact-based-activity-over-cannabis-psychosis-claims/
I got quite a few messages thanking me for that. :D
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Meanwhile, the government is finalising the details of its 2020 cannabis decriminalisation referendum: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395503/parliamentary-bill-enables-cannabis-referendum-process
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Ministry of Health consultation information. Only a week to do it.
https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/medicinal-cannabis-scheme-consultation?fbclid=IwAR1a3HrrGaRSG3GxWDH_DM4b7gY-jNCx99OhQ5yhpltj-T-uvdoWiLcGIew -
McCoskrie again, scaremongering over cannabis edibles. I think that insuring that these particular formats don't get across the line is reasonable, but it's no real reason for maintaining prohibition:
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I'm pleased to be able to announce that I have been appointed by the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor to the Expert Panel on Cannabis.
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andin, in reply to
Good news looking forward to the report.
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andin, in reply to
So thats McCoskrie in person? Looks and sounds like your average kiwi bloke type, and then the paranoid, scare mongering spouts forth.
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Most health practitioners believe that GPs should be encouraged to prescribe CBD-based cannabinoid medical products: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12254849&fbclid=IwAR387uYS8JKv3BjFaHpnZbFgNomh1I35o7PpeFqam4z9TmlVyR1s3qxFEIM
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Sacha, in reply to
onya, Joe
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I can now report that given Andrew Little's announcement about imminent abortion law liberalisation, Family First regards pandering to vicious misogynist religious fanatics over women's reproductive choices to take precedence over prohibiting personal use of recreational cannabis. Bob isn't too good at strategic planning and multiple issue management. He's asking his sycophants for dosh. One can only assume that this time, the US Christian Right isn't bankrolling him as it usually does (the World Congress of Families, in case anyone's interested).
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