Assessing Health-Related Outcomes of Medical Cannabis Use among Older Persons: Findings from Colorado and Illinois
ABSTRACT
Objectives
To assess health-related outcomes associated with medical cannabis use among older patients in Colorado and Illinois enrolled in their home state’s medical cannabis program.
Methods
Cross-sectional data from anonymous surveys were collected from 139 persons over the age of 60 using medical cannabis in the past year. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to confirm the hypothesized four-factor structure that includes health-related quality of life (HRQL), health-care utilization (HCU), symptom effects, and adverse events. We then examined associations between cannabis use and self-reported outcome changes using linear regression.
Stories you may be interested in
New study finds cannabis effective for treating migraines
A study published last month in the Journal of Pain found a statistically significant reduction in migraine and headache symptoms and recurrences among patients who used cannabis for treatment.Smoking cannabis reduced the severity and length of migraine episodes by nearly half. Researchers concluded that headache and migraine severity were reduced by nearly 50% after using cannabis. The study, conducted by researchers…
Read More 
World Cancer Day – Shine a Light on the World
In 2018, it was estimated that 1,735,350 new cancer cases would be diagnosed in the United States and 609,640 individuals would pass from the disease [Cancer.gov]. We cannot sit by and ignore this life altering disease, which is why World Cancer Day, recognized on Feb. 4, is such an important awareness campaign to the Arfinn…
Read More 
CEO Spotlight: James West
As a former academic coordinator for the City University of New York Research Foundation and Medgar Evers College, CEO and co-founder of Arfinn Med, James West, has extensive experience in adult education and professional training programming. James put this extensive education to good use when he noticed that there was a direct need for a…
Read More 
Florida’s largest cannabis company makes a deal to carry edible marijuana products
TALLAHASSEE The state’s first and largest medical marijuana provider, Trulieve, signed an exclusive deal to bring high-end edible marijuana products to Florida, the company announced Wednesday. Binske, the Colorado-based company, began operations just two years ago, markets “an experience” through their top-shelf products. Florida’s 162,000 registered patients will soon be able to buy and medicate…
Read More 
Illinois dispensary to allow patients to substitute medical marijuana for opioids prescription
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (KMOV.com) — Thursday, Illinois will become the first state to launch a revised medical marijuana program. The program allows pain suffers who use opioids to temporarily switch to medical marijuana. Following months of planning, the new initiative will launch at the HCI Alternatives medical cannabis dispensary in Springfield, Illinois. In a press release,…
Read More 
State Board of Health reviews timelines for establishing Mississippi medical marijuana program
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The blueprint for Mississippi’s medical marijuana program is Initiative 65 that voters approved in November. That contains detailed requirements and the clock is ticking to get it started. The State Board of Health met virtually Wednesday to discuss the groundwork of the medical marijuana program. “I do want to tell you…
Read More