New studies highlight the use of cannabis as a therapeutic aid

Two new studies have detailed the growing therapeutic use of cannabis among menopausal women and athletes in a recovery mode, while a professional medical association voiced its support of cannabis nursing.

According to a study presented during the recent 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia, women and adults ages 50 and older are the fastest growing group of cannabis users.

The new study culled data from more than 5,000 midlife women and analyzed the frequency, forms, and motives of cannabis use by primarily postmenopausal women. More than 40% of respondents acknowledged using cannabis for recreational or therapeutic purposes, most often to treat chronic pain (28%), anxiety (24%), sleep problems (22%), and stress (22%).

More than 10% of study participants said they cannabis in the past 30 days, most often smoking (56%), ingesting edible products (52%), or using cannabis in more than one form (39%). Among those with past 30-day use, 31% reported smoking cannabis on a daily or near-daily basis, while 19% reported daily or near-daily use of edible cannabis products.

Women who reported using cannabis specifically for menopause symptoms (6%) primarily reported targeting menopause-related mood and sleep difficulties.

“We know that cannabis products are being marketed to women to manage menopause symptoms, and these findings suggest that midlife women are turning to cannabis for menopause symptoms and other common issues in the menopause transition,” said Dr. Carolyn Gibson, lead author and health services researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. “But we still do not know if use is actually helping for those symptoms, or if it may be contributing to other challenges. These findings highlight the need for recognizing and discussing cannabis use in the healthcare setting. Additional research is needed to evaluate the potential harms and/or benefits of use.”

In a separate study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, researchers with Kent State University in Ohio polled more than 100 athletes who reported using cannabis and regularly engaging in aerobic and/or resistance exercise.

The researchers found 20% of respondents used CBD for recovery from aerobic exercise and 23% reported CBD use to recover from resistance exercise, while 61% reported using THC after aerobic exercise for recovery and 60% reported using THC after resistance exercise for recovery.

When the participants were asked if cannabis in the form of CBD aided in their recovery, 93% said yes – 87% affirmed that THC aided in their recovery.

“The present study demonstrated that in addition to more traditional recovery methods, cannabis is used as an ergogenic recovery aid by individuals that exercise regularly,” said the study’s authors. “More data are necessary to understand the role of cannabis in exercise recovery as well as perceived ergogenic benefits of cannabis by individuals who both regularly participate in exercise and habitually use cannabis.”

Separately, the American Nurses Association (ANA), a professional organization representing 5 million nurses in the U.S, announced that it has provided formal recognition of cannabis nursing as a nursing specialty.

Cannabis nursing is identified by the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA) – an organization that is separate from the ANA – as a specialty nursing practice focused on the care of health care consumers seeking education and guidance in the therapeutic use of cannabis. The ANA voice its support for clinical research to inform patients and providers on the efficacy of marijuana and related cannabinoids and recognized the potential for cannabinoids to be used in disease treatment and symptom management.

“ANA is pleased to officially recognize cannabis nursing practice as a nursing specialty,” said ANA President Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy. “This recognition highlights the essential role and special contribution of cannabis nurses to the health care system and promotes enhanced integration of cannabis therapies for health care consumers across diverse health care settings.”