A National Survey Study of Cannabis Use During Menopause: Identifying Variables Associated with Recreational, Medical, and Hybrid Use.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has demonstrated different cannabis-related outcomes depending on the goal of cannabis use (i.e., recreational, medical, hybrid of both), underscoring the need to identify variables associated with specific goals of use, particularly in understudied populations. METHOD: This report utilized data from a national survey of menopausal individuals using non-probability sampling. Respondents reporting current regular (≥1x/month) cannabis use (medical n=35, recreational n=61, and hybrid n=102) were included in multivariate logistic regression analyses examining demographic, clinical (e.g., menopause-related symptomatology), and cannabis-related variables associated with goal of cannabis use. RESULTS: Overall, increased number of medical conditions was associated with medical and hybrid use relative to recreational use (ps≤.047), and greater menopause-related symptomatology was associated with medical relative to hybrid use (p=.001). Lower education level was associated with hybrid relative to recreational use (p=.010). Lastly, increased number of modes of use was associated with hybrid use relative to medical and recreational use (ps≤.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest medical and hybrid consumers with more medical conditions and more severe clinical symptoms that are not sufficiently alleviated by conventional treatments may be more open to cannabinoid-based therapies. Additionally, as lower education level is often associated with recreational cannabis use, results suggest hybrid consumers may begin as recreational consumers who then expand their use for medical purposes. Further, more varied modes of use for hybrid consumers may reflect different product selection based on goal of use. Future research should investigate the etiology of hybrid cannabis use and predictors of long-term outcomes associated with goals of use.

Identifying Variables Associated with Menopause-Related Shame and Stigma: Results from a National Survey Study.

Background: Despite the significance of menopause as a natural biological milestone experienced by approximately half the population, few studies have evaluated factors associated with menopause-related shame and stigma. Given previous research indicating increased shame and stigma are associated with negative outcomes that directly impact health (e.g., reduced access to health care), it is critical to identify variables associated with menopause-related shame and stigma. Materials and Methods: As part of a larger, national survey, 214 perimenopausal (n = 111) and postmenopausal (n = 103) individuals completed self-report questionnaires assessing demographics and menopause-related symptoms, shame, and stigma. Regression analyses examined variables associated with shame and stigma. Results: Over a third of respondents reported feeling shame related to their menopause-related symptoms (37.4%), while the majority of respondents reported feeling stigma associated with symptoms (82.7%). In addition, most respondents endorsed talking about their symptoms with friends, family, partners, or doctors (80.8%), and felt that their peers might experience the same symptoms (93.9%). Regression analyses identified several significant predictor variables; in particular, more severe psychosocial and urogenital symptoms, higher education level, and younger age were significantly associated with greater odds of reporting shame and stigma. Conclusions: Overall, findings suggest that even though menopausal individuals report feeling their symptoms are similar to their peers, shame and stigma are significantly associated with these symptoms, which may be impacted by symptom severity and socioeconomic factors. Results suggest that younger individuals (i.e., those just entering perimenopause) with more education may be more likely to feel shame and stigma, which could inform interventional strategies and improve clinical outcomes.

CannaCount: an improved metric for quantifying estimates of maximum possible cannabinoid exposure.

Increasing numbers of individuals have access to cannabinoid-based products containing various amounts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. Exposure to specific cannabinoids likely influences outcomes; however, current methods for quantifying cannabis exposure do not account for the cannabinoid concentrations of the products used. We developed CannaCount, an examiner-driven metric that quantifies estimated maximum possible cannabinoid exposure by accounting for variables related to cannabinoid concentration, duration, frequency, and quantity of use. To demonstrate feasibility and applicability, CannaCount was used to quantify estimated maximum THC and CBD exposure in 60 medical cannabis patients enrolled in a two-year, longitudinal, observational study. Medical cannabis patients reported using a variety of product types and routes of administration. Calculating estimated exposure to THC and CBD was possible for the majority of study visits, and the ability to generate estimated cannabinoid exposure improved over time, likely a function of improved product labeling, laboratory testing, and more informed consumers. CannaCount is the first metric to provide estimated maximum possible exposure to individual cannabinoids based on actual cannabinoid concentrations. This metric will ultimately facilitate cross-study comparisons and can provide researchers and clinicians with detailed information regarding exposure to specific cannabinoids, which will likely have significant clinical impact.