Complementary and Alternative Health Beliefs and Practices Among Medical Cannabis Patients

It is estimated that 40% of the population has tried complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) such as acupuncture and herbal medicines. Cannabis is now an approved herbal medication in 16 states plus DC. The increasing use of cannabis as a complementary and alternative medicine begs the question about the use of other CAM methods and beliefs about CAM vs. more traditional medical treatments among this population. With confusion over whether medical cannabis patients are more akin to consumers of other illicit drugs or herbal medicines, this study aims to clarify the population of medical cannabis patients who subscribe to an engage in CAM practices. Data are currently being gathered via anonymous patient survey at Berkeley Patients Group (BPG), a community based medical cannabis dispensary in Berkeley, CA. BPG has been open since 1999 and currently serves an average of 1000 patients per day from the San Francisco Bay Area, BPG offers massage therapy, chiropractic services and acupuncture free of charge to patients by licensed practitioners. The CAM survey contains demographic questions including condition for which cannabis is used, cannabis use patterns (type of products, methods of ingestion) and use of CAM practices such as exercise, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicines to treat disease conditions and other types of bodywork. The survey also asks patients about their beliefs regarding the ability of CAM methods to replace traditional pharmaceuticals and other traditional treatments. This presentation will reveal the results of this study and discuss cannabis as it relates to CAM practices.