Substition Effect in 628 Medical Cannabis Patients: Results from the Cannabis Access for Medical Purposes Survey (CAMPS)

• In Event: The Changing Dynamics of Cannabis: Attitudes, Policy and Medical Uses

Abstract

With over 628 responses so far, the Cannabis Access for Medical Purposes Survey (CAMPS) is the largest polling of Canadian medical cannabis patients to date. This paper examines self-reported cannabis substitution for alcohol, pharmaceuticals and illicit substances from the CAMPS project.This study adds to a growing amount of research suggesting that a large percentage of patients who use cannabis are substituting it for pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol and illicit substances. Consequently, cannabis may be serving a harm reduction function in some patients using high rates of pharmaceuticals and/or affected by problematic substance use issues. Further research should seek to differentiate between biomedical substitution for prescription pharmaceuticals and psychoactive drug substitution for addiction, and to better elucidate the mechanisms behind both. Additionally, research into cannabis as a treatment for problematic substance use in non-patient populations should be explored.

Authors

• Phillippe Lucas, University of Victoria

• Zachary Walsh, University of British Columbia

• Kim Crosby, University of British Columbia

• Robert Callaway, University of British Columbia

• Lynne Belle-Isle, University of Victoria

• Rielle Capler, University of British Columbia

• Susan Holtzman, University of British Columbia

• Robert Kay, Green Cannapy Research and Development

• Jamie Marshall, University of British Columbia

• Trevor Stratton, Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network

• Michael Woodworth, University of British Columbia