Characterization of the Use and Perceptions of Cannabis for Mental Health in Older Canadians: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Department of Pharmacy Services, Interior Health Authority, Kelowna, BC, Canada
School of Health & Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Abstract
Older adults are increasingly using cannabis medicinally, including for the treatment of mental health symptoms. The purpose of this report was to characterize cannabis use and perceptions of cannabis safety and effectiveness amongst older adults who use cannabis for the treatment of mental health symptoms. An online survey of cannabis usage and perceptions was conducted between February 2022 to September 2022. This report analyzes older adults currently using cannabis for self-reported mental health symptoms or conditions. A total of 1,615 older Canadians completed the survey, of whom 322 (19.9%) reported using cannabis for mental health symptoms. Most (70.8%) found cannabis somewhat or extremely helpful in managing their symptoms and 73.8% viewed cannabis as safe or very safe compared to pharmaceutical medications. Within the past year, 62.4% reported having experienced an adverse effect of cannabis. Older adults who use cannabis for mental health symptoms view it positively, despite the high prevalence of self-reported adverse effects.
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Keywords: cannabis, mental health, anxiety, depression, observational study
Article notes
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Received 2024 Jul 11; Revised 2024 Oct 2; Accepted 2025 May 18; Collection date 2025 Jan-Dec.
Introduction
In Canada, 1 in 10 older adults has a mood or anxiety disorder, 1 in 5 has insomnia, and nearly half report difficulty with sleep initiation (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2020). Older adults are less likely than younger individuals to seek mental health care or be referred to psychotherapy, leaving many to manage their symptoms independently (Byers et al., 2012; Pettit et al., 2017). One therapy increasingly used by older adults for symptom management is cannabis (Kosiba et al., 2019). Cannabis use is increasing faster among older Canadians than any other age group, predominantly for medicinal purposes (Statistics Canada, 2019).
Older adults may use cannabis to treat symptoms of acute or chronic conditions, such as pain, insomnia, anxiety, or depression (Yang et al., 2021). The effectiveness of cannabis for mental health indications is equivocal (Wolfe et al., 2023). Cannabis has been found to decrease negative affect and likelihood of major depressive episodes, while also being associated with increased risk of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, mood disorders, and worsened post-traumatic stress disorder (Walsh et al., 2017; Wolfe et al., 2023). Some studies have found cannabis effective for improving sleep, while others have found no significant difference (Maddison et al., 2022). Observational data suggests that many older adults who use cannabis for the treatment of mental health symptoms find it effective and safe, with some reporting a decreased reliance on pharmaceuticals (Kaufmann et al., 2023; Reynolds et al., 2018; Tumati et al., 2022; Vaillancourt et al., 2022; Yang et al., 2021). However, much of the data on older adults’ experience with cannabis for mental health conditions is from clinical settings and may not apply to community-dwelling older adults where cannabis may be used without guidance or oversight from healthcare professionals. Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are known to be inhibitors of enzymes within the cytochrome P-450 system, which metabolizes some medications used for mental health conditions, including some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines (Ho et al., 2024). While there is a paucity of research on the clinical effects of such interactions, limited evidence suggests that pharmacokinetic interactions with cannabis may be clinically relevant for certain medications (Ho et al., 2024).
The increased use of cannabis by older adults, coupled with the prevalence of mental health conditions in this population and the possibility for cannabis both to worsen mental health symptoms and interact with mental health medications, makes it important to understand older adults use and perceptions of cannabis for the treatment of mental health symptoms. The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of older adults who use cannabis for the treatment of mental health conditions. The objectives are to describe the prevalence of cannabis use for mental health in older adults, the self-reported effectiveness of cannabis, and the adverse effects experienced by this population.
Methods
An anonymous survey was developed through a comprehensive and inclusive process of reviewing relevant literature and obtaining input and feedback from older adults and clinicians. After reiterations and piloting with a small group of older adults online, the survey was formerly released and conducted online using the Qualtrics XM platform. A convenience sample of older Canadians was recruited through advertisements on social media, websites, and email distribution lists of the Aging in Place Research Cluster, the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, and the National Association of Federal Retirees, and further spread through a snowball effect. Prospective participants were eligible for inclusion if they were English or French-speaking Canadians aged 50 years or older, regardless of cannabis use patterns or past medical history. There were no health, medication, or cannabis experience exclusion criteria. Eligible individuals were invited to complete a survey on their perceptions of, knowledge about, and experience with cannabis, regardless of whether they had current or previous experience with cannabis. The survey consisted of 45 multiple-choice and open-ended questions (Appendix 1). Survey questions were drafted based on a review of the literature, including other surveys assessing older adults use and perceptions of cannabis, as well as the researcher’s clinical experience working with community-dwelling older adults. Several older adults reviewed the survey before its launch for readability and skip logic. Data was collected on demographics and the perceptions of, knowledge about, and experiences with cannabis. The survey was available from February 5, 2022, to September 6, 2022. Ethical approval was granted by the harmonized ethics board of the Interior Health Authority and the University of British Columbia’s Behavioral Research Ethics Boards (H21-03287). Consent was electronically documented.
Participant demographics were used to determine the presence of multimorbidity, defined as having three or more chronic medical conditions (Johnston et al., 2019), and polypharmacy, defined as taking five or more medications concurrently (Masnoon et al., 2017). Participants reported their reasons for cannabis use as recreational, medicinal, or both. Those who selected medicinal use of cannabis alone or in combination with recreational use were asked to indicate the specific conditions for medicinal use from a list of potential health indications with a free-text box available for additional health indications. Cannabis use for mental health purposes was defined as self-reported use for any condition within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5 TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Participants were asked to select any adverse or unwanted effects experienced following cannabis use within the past year from a list of possible adverse effects, and a free-text box was provided for documentation of other adverse effects. Adverse effects were collapsed into categories, including adverse effects impacting balance, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling off balance, and adverse effects impacting mental alertness, including confusion, grogginess, and sedation.
Perceptions of cannabis effectiveness and safety were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Open-ended questions were coded using a standardized codebook. Less than 1% of the data was missing in the response variables. To ensure a complete dataset, missing data was estimated with multiple imputations. Data was considered missing at random, and a Markov chain Monte Carlo imputation algorithm was used to estimate missing variables. Categorical data was described with percentages. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare categorical data. A p-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Data analysis was completed with SPSS version 29.0.1.0.
Results
A total of 1,615 older Canadians completed the survey. Overall, 906 respondents were current non-users of cannabis (lifetime non-users and previous users) and 709 reported current use of cannabis, 322 (19.9%) of whom indicated cannabis was being used, as least in part, to treat mental health symptoms. Respondents who use cannabis for the treatment of mental health symptoms were primarily Caucasian (94.7%), between the ages of 50 to 70 (61.8%), with an equal proportion of males and females (Table 1). Compared to those using cannabis for reasons other than mental health, a greater proportion of respondents using cannabis for mental health purposes were female (51.2% vs. 43.7%, p = .04) and were living with multimorbidity (39.8% vs. 19.6%, p < .001). Compared to non-users of cannabis, those using cannabis to treat mental health symptoms were younger (age 50–60 years: 21.4% vs. 9.5%, p < .001), fewer had a graduate or professional degree (34.8% vs. 44.4%, p = .003) and a greater proportion were living with multimorbidity (39.8% vs. 19.1%, p < .001) and polypharmacy (20.2% vs. 15.2%, p = .04). Respondents using cannabis for mental health purposes were doing so for strictly medicinal reasons (56.2%) or both medicinal and recreational purposes (43.8%; Table 2). Half of the participants first used cannabis within the last 5 years, including 20.5% who first tried cannabis within the past 12 months.
| Variables | Using cannabis for mental health purposes, n = 322 (%) | Using cannabis for non-mental health purposes, n = 387 (%) | p Value | Not using cannabis, a n = 906 (%) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | |||||
| 50–60 | 69 (21.4) | 69 (17.8) | .228 | 86 (9.5) | <.001 |
| 61–70 | 130 (40.4) | 184 (47.5) | .056 | 362 (40.0) | .896 |
| 71–80 | 102 (31.7) | 122 (31.5) | .965 | 364 (40.2) | .007 |
| 81+ | 21 (6.5) | 12 (3.1) | 94 (10.4) | .041 | |
| Sex | |||||
| Male | 155 (48.1) | 213 (55.0) | .067 | 435 (48.0) | .970 |
| Female | 165 (51.2) | 169 (43.7) | .044 | 450 (49.7) | .628 |
| Other gender | 1 (0.3) | 2 (0.5) | .674 | 3 (0.3) | .956 |
| Prefer not to say | 1 (0.3) | 3 (0.8) | 18 (2.0) | ||
| Ethnicity | |||||
| Caucasian | 305 (94.7) | 358 (92.5) | .233 | 825 (91.1) | .037 |
| Indigenous/Metis | 5 (1.6) | 10 (2.6) | .342 | 20 (2.2) | .475 |
| Other | 6 (1.9) | 10 (2.6) | .520 | 25 (2.8) | .379 |
| Prefer not to say | 6 (1.9) | 9 (2.3) | 35 (3.9) | ||
| Education | |||||
| Elementary/secondary | 66 (20.5) | 68 (17.6) | .322 | 161 (17.8) | .279 |
| Post-secondary degree | 134 (41.6) | 170 (43.9) | .536 | 323 (35.7) | .057 |
| Graduate degree and/or professional | 112 (34.8) | 140 (36.2) | .700 | 402 (44.4) | .003 |
| Prefer not to say | 10 (3.1) | 9 (2.3) | 20 (2.2) | ||
| Number of chronic medical conditions | |||||
| 0–2 | 185 (57.5) | 304 (78.6) | <.001 | 705 (77.8) | <.001 |
| 3 or more | 128 (39.8) | 76 (19.6) | <.001 | 173 (19.1) | <.001 |
| Prefer not to say | 9 (2.8) | 6 (1.6) | 28 (3.1) | ||
| Number of medications | |||||
| 0 | 54 (16.8) | 92 (23.8) | .022 | 199 (22.0) | .048 |
| 1–4 | 200 (62.1) | 234 (60.6) | .654 | 551 (60.8) | .682 |
| 5 or more | 65 (20.2) | 57 (14.7) | .055 | 138 (15.2) | .040 |
| Prefer not to say | 3 (0.9) | 3 (0.8) | 18 (2.0) |
| Variables | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Reason for cannabis use | |
| Medicinal | 181 (56.2) |
| Medicinal + Recreational | 141 (43.8) |
| Mental health indications for use | |
| Insomnia | 273 ( (84.8) |
| Anxiety | 141 (43.8) |
| Depression | 72 (22.4) |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | 10 (3.1) |
| Dementia | 1 (0.3) |
| Unwanted/Adverse effects | |
| Dry mouth | 111 (34.5) |
| Effects impacting balance a | 71 (22.0) |
| Falling | 5 (1.6) |
| Effects impacting mental alertness b | 65 (20.2) |
| Felt high/hallucinated | 67 (20.8) |
| Anxiety/Paranoia | 16 (5.0) |
| Other c | 16 (5.0) |
| Frequency of cannabis use | |
| Daily/almost every day | 169 (52.5) |
| Several times per week | 72 (22.4) |
| Once a month or less | 81 (25.2) |
| First time cannabis was used | |
| Within the last year | 67 (20.5) |
| 1–5 years | 94(29.2) |
| 5+ years | 161 (50.0) |
| Types of cannabis currently or previously used | |
| CBD only | 190(59.0) |
| THC only | 119(37.0) |
| CBD/THC combination | 248 (77.0) |
| Unsure | 12 (3.7) |
| Methods of current or previous cannabis use | |
| Inhalation | 156 (48.4) |
| Ingestion | 3,131 (97.2) |
| Topical | 144 (44.7) |
| Suppositories | 2 (0.6) |
| Individuals aware of cannabis use | |
| Family | 302(93.8) |
| Friends | 279 (86.6) |
| Healthcare practitioner | 205 (63.7) |
The most common mental health reasons for cannabis use were insomnia (n = 273, 84.8%), anxiety (n = 141, 43.8%), and depression (n = 72, 22.4%; Table 2). Most (87.9%) also used cannabis to treat other non-mental health conditions, most commonly pain or inflammation (75.2%). Over half (52.5%) reported using cannabis daily/almost every day and 22.4% used cannabis several days per week. Almost two-thirds (63.7%) said that their healthcare professionals were aware of their cannabis use.
Most respondents found cannabis somewhat or extremely helpful for treating their symptoms (70.8%) and over half (57.1%) perceived cannabis to be more or somewhat more effective than pharmaceuticals (Figure 1). Participants viewed cannabis as safe or very safe (73.8%) compared to pharmaceuticals and described the perceived risk of cannabis as low or very low (74.4%).
Within the past year, 62.4% of respondents reported experiencing unwanted or adverse effects of cannabis, most commonly dry mouth (34.5%), followed by adverse effects impacting balance (22%) or mental alertness (20.2%) and feeling high or hallucinating (20.8%; Table 2).
Discussion
Within this cohort of 1,615 older Canadians, 322 (19.9%) reported using cannabis, at least in part, to treat mental health symptoms. Half of individuals using cannabis for mental health symptoms started within the past 5 years and the majority used cannabis regularly. Most participants had a positive view of cannabis’ effectiveness and safety. However, almost 2/3 reported experiencing an unwanted or adverse effect of cannabis in the past year.
The use of cannabis for mental health purposes in this study was higher than previously reported. Of the 1,615 older Canadians who completed the survey, 16.9% used cannabis for insomnia, 8.7% for anxiety, and 4.5% for depression. Previous surveys indicate that 4% to 6% of older adults use cannabis for insomnia, 4% for anxiety, and 3% for depression (Reynolds et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2021). These differences may be due to the populations surveyed, as previous studies included individuals aged 65 and older at US geriatric or primary care clinics, while we electronically recruited community-dwelling Canadians aged 50 and older to reflect those described to be more sensitive to and higher risk of experienced side effects by in Canadian government publications (Government of Canada, 2022; Reynolds et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2021). This survey also had a higher proportion of current cannabis users (709/1,615, 43.9%) than previous studies (15%) (Reynolds et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2021). The greater proportion of cannabis use for mental health purposes in this study was likely reflective of the higher prevalence of cannabis use in the full study cohort. A greater proportion of individuals using cannabis for mental health purposes were female, of younger age, and living with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. A gender-based difference in the prevalence of mental health conditions exists in Canada, with women reporting a higher prevalence of both mood and sleep disorders (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2020). Similarly, literature suggests an association between the presence of mental health conditions and multimorbidity (Castro-de-Araujo et al., 2022), polypharmacy (Palapinyo et al., 2021), and lower educational achievement (Mojtabai et al., 2015), which may have contributed to greater use in these populations.
Most respondents who used cannabis for mental health purposes had a positive view of its effectiveness and safety. In a previous survey of community-dwelling older adults, most respondents found cannabis helpful for symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, or depression (Reynolds et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2021). Data including younger populations has found that the majority of those who use cannabis medicinally find it to be more effective than prescription medications, better tolerated, and helpful in reducing or eliminating reliance on prescription medications (Corroon et al., 2017; Kvamme et al., 2021; Tumati et al., 2022). The predominant comparison has been to opioid medications; however, similar reductions in the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and benzodiazepines have been reported with cannabis (Corroon et al., 2017; Kvamme et al., 2021; Vaillancourt et al., 2022). While we did not specifically ask if cannabis was a substitute for pharmaceuticals, it is reasonable to assume that a portion may be, given the positive cannabis perceptions of respondents.
Nearly two-thirds (62.8%) of respondents experienced at least one unwanted or adverse effect in the past year. This is higher than other surveys of community-dwelling older adults, which found approximately 15% of cannabis users had ever experienced an adverse effect. This difference may be methodological. We asked participants to select any adverse effects that they experienced in the past year from a list of potential negative health effects while other surveys first asked if participants had experienced an adverse effect before prompting them to select the adverse effect experienced (Reynolds et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2021). Adverse effects impacting balance and mental alertness were reported by 22.2% and 20.3% of our respondents, respectively. This is in alignment with another survey that found 27% of older American cannabis users experienced some or a lot of memory impairment, and 12% experienced some or a lot of balance impairment/falls (Lum et al., 2019). Adverse effects impacting cognition and balance are concerning in older adults due to the increased risks of cognitive impairment and falls in this demographic (Wieghorst et al., 2022; Workman et al., 2021).
Despite the frequency of adverse effects, cannabis was generally considered safe by most respondents. However, evidence suggests some individuals may experience worsening mental health conditions with cannabis use, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Wolfe et al., 2023). Additionally, cannabis may interact with some medications commonly used for the treatment of mental health conditions (Ho et al., 2024). CBD and THC are known to inhibit certain cytochrome P450 isoenzymes (Ho et al., 2024), which metabolize some common mental health medications, including several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Edinoff et al., 2021) and benzodiazepines (Griffin et al., 2013). The risk of potential drug interactions and unrecognized adverse effects of cannabis may be even more important for the nearly 1/3 of respondents whose healthcare providers are unaware of their cannabis use. An increased public awareness of the potential safety concerns of using cannabis is necessary, including the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals’ awareness of cannabis use.
More research is warranted to determine the safety and effectiveness of cannabis for mental health purposes, particularly in older adults. Our research suggests that a growing number of older Canadians are using cannabis for mental health purposes, despite equivocal evidence on its safety and effectiveness. Additional research in older populations is required to determine the effectiveness of cannabis for mental health conditions and cannabis safety in the aging body and with concomitant medications commonly used by this population. As there is a growing number of older adults using cannabis, healthcare providers must inquire about cannabis use, particularly for those with mental health conditions or experiencing symptoms that may be attributable to or impacted by cannabis, such as impaired cognition or balance.
Limitations
This study involved the voluntary completion of an electronic survey by a convenience sample of older Canadians who were primarily Caucasian, cis-gender, and of higher socioeconomic status and does not necessarily represent the experiences and perceptions of older Canadians nationwide. As such, generalizability to people of other ethnicities, genders, or socioeconomic statuses or those with lower technological literacy is cautioned. Additionally, a responder bias may be present in our sample, with a greater representation of individuals who are currently using cannabis, have a positive view of cannabis, or are more interested in or educated on cannabis. Responses, such as adverse effects experienced in the past year, may be influenced by recall bias, and should be interpreted cautiously. Legalization in Canada likely impacted cannabis use and perceptions; thus, this data might not be applicable in countries where cannabis is not legal. Our survey questions were broad, and we were not able to identify some of the nuances of cannabis practices, such as the composition of cannabis currently being used, or if participants had a clinical diagnosis of a mental health condition from a medical provider. Further work is necessary to investigate the specific preferences and practices of cannabis use for mental health conditions in older adults.
Conclusions
Approximately one in five older Canadians reported using cannabis, at least in part, to manage mental health symptoms, the majority of whom have a positive view of its effectiveness and safety profile. However, adverse effects, including those impacting balance and mental alertness, are common within this population. It is important for healthcare professional to inquire about cannabis use when caring for older adults with mental health conditions.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the contributions Jacob Movold, who assisted in methodology and analysis.
Appendix 1: Survey Questions
What is your age?
- ○ 49 or younger
- ○ 50–55
- ○ 56–60
- ○ 61–65
- ○ 66–70
- ○ 71–75
- ○ 76–80
- ○ 81–85
- ○ 86+
What is your gender?
- ○ Male
- ○ Female
- ○ Transgender male
- ○ Transgender female
- ○ Androgyne
- ○ Agender
- ○ Bigender
- ○ Genderfluid
- ○ Nonbinary
- ○ Polygender/pangender
- ○ Prefer not to say
What are the first 3 digits of your postal code? ____________
What is your relationship status?
- ○ Single
- ○ Engaged
- ○ Married
- ○ Common law
- ○ Separated
- ○ Divorced
- ○ Widowed
- ○ Prefer not to say
What is your ethnicity?
- ○ Asian
- ○ Black
- ○ East Indian
- ○ Hispanic
- ○ Indigenous/Metis
- ○ White
- ○ Other
- ○ Prefer not to say
What is your current level of education?
- ○ Elementary
- ○ Secondary
- ○ Post-Secondary Degree
- ○ Graduate Degree and/or Professional
- ○ No formal schooling
- ○ Prefer not to say
What is your current living situation?
- ○ I live alone
- ○ I live with my partner
- ○ I live with a family member(s)
- ○ I live with a friend
- ○ I live with a caregiver
- ○ I live with a supported living program (a service designed to help people with a wide range of support needs retain their independence by being supported in their own home)
- ○ I live in an assisted living facility (a housing facility for people with disabilities or for adults who cannot or who choose not to live independently)
- ○ Prefer not to say
What is your approximate household income?
- ○ $48,535 or less
- ○ $48,536 to $97,069
- ○ $97,070 to $150,473
- ○ $150,474 to $214,368
- ○ More than $214,368
- ○ Prefer not to say
How many chronic medical conditions have you been diagnosed with?
- ○ 0
- ○ 1–2
- ○ 3–4
- ○ 5–6
- ○ 7–8
- ○ 9–10
- ○ 11 or more
- ○ Prefer not to say
How many medications do you currently take to manage your conditions?
- ○ 0
- ○ 1–4
- ○ 5–9
- ○ 10–14
- ○ 15+
- ○ Prefer not to say
How have you gained knowledge of Cannabis? Select all that apply:
- ○ Through my friends
- ○ Through my family
- ○ Through my family doctor
- ○ Through a nurse
- ○ Through a pharmacist
- ○ Through cannabis shop staff
- ○ Through an online website
- ○ Through a newsletter
- ○ I do not know much about cannabis
- ○ I do not know anything about cannabis
- ○ Through other healthcare professional, please specify: ___________
- ○ Other, please specify: _______
What would you like to know about Cannabis? Please enter in the box below.
________________________________________________________________
Select all the Cannabis products off that you are aware of:
- ○ Dried flower (whole)
- ○ Dried flower (pre-ground)
- ○ Oils for ingestion
- ○ Edibles (candy, brownies, tea, etc)
- ○ Topical (creams, rubs, etc)
- ○ Capsules for ingestion
- ○ Oral spray for ingestion
- ○ Concentrates (shatter, budder, wax, etc)
- ○ Other, please specify: _______
Do you feel you have a good knowledge base / education to make an informed choice about Cannabis use?
- ○ Strongly disagree
- ○ Somewhat disagree
- ○ Neither agree nor disagree
- ○ Somewhat agree
- ○ Strongly agree
Do your religious beliefs impact your views on Cannabis?
- ○ No
- ○ Yes
- ○ Not applicable
Do your cultural beliefs impact your views on Cannabis?
- ○ No
- ○ Yes
- ○ Not applicable
Have you looked for information on the use of Cannabis in the past year?
- ○ No
- ○ Yes
What resources have you used to find information on Cannabis? Select all that apply:
- ○ Through my friends
- ○ Through my family
- ○ Through my family doctor
- ○ Through a nurse
- ○ Through a pharmacist
- ○ Through an online website
- ○ Through cannabis shop staff
- ○ Through a newsletter
- ○ Through other healthcare professional, please specify: ______
- ○ Other, please specify:_____
Do any of the Cannabis products make you feel more comfortable with the use of Cannabis either by yourself or others? Select all that apply:
- ○ Dried flower (whole)
- ○ Dried flower (pre-ground)
- ○ Edibles (candy, brownies, tea, etc)
- ○ Topical (creams, rubs, etc)
- ○ Capsules for ingestion
- ○ Oral spray for ingestion
- ○ Concentrates (shatter, budder, wax, etc)
- ○ Pre rolled joints for smoking
- ○ Other, please specify:______
- ○ I don’t know
What is your perceived risk of using Cannabis products?
- ○ Very Low
- ○ Low
- ○ Neutral
- ○ High
- ○ Very high
What do you perceive as the greatest risk associated with Cannabis use? Please type your answer in the space below:___________________
Do you view any Cannabis products are more harmful than others?
- ○ Dried flower
- ○ Edibles (candy, brownies, tea, etc)
- ○ Oils ready for ingestion
- ○ Topical (creams, rubs, etc)
- ○ Capsules for ingestion
- ○ Oral spray for ingestion
- ○ Concentrates (shatter, budder, wax, etc)
- ○ Other, please specify:
- ○ I don’t know
How do you view the safety of Cannabis as a medicinal product compared to pharmaceutical medicine?
- ○ Very Safe
- ○ Safe
- ○ Neutral
- ○ Harmful
- ○ Very Harmful
How do you view Cannabis as a recreational drug compared to alcohol?
- ○ Very Safe
- ○ Safe
- ○ Neutral
- ○ Harmful
- ○ Very Harmful
How do you view Cannabis as a recreational drug compared to illicit street drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, and LSD?
- ○ Very Safe
- ○ Safe
- ○ Neutral
- ○ Harmful
- ○ Very Harmful
Do you use, or have you used, Cannabis?
- ○ Yes
- ○ No
- ○ No, but considering
The Next 2 Question were only asked to those who indicated that they do not currently, but are considering using cannabis.
For what reason are you considering using Cannabis? Select all that apply
- ○ Recreational use
- ○ Medicinal use
What symptom have you considered using Cannabis to manage medically?
- ○ Pain/Inflammation/Arthritis
- ○ Anxiety
- ○ Depression
- ○ Dementia
- ○ Insomnia/sleep issues
- ○ To help relax
- ○ Migraines/headaches
- ○ Nausea/Vomiting
- ○ Appetite issues
- ○ Cancer
- ○ Seizures/spasticity
- ○ Glaucoma
- ○ Other, please specify:
The Next 10 Question were only asked to those who answered Yes to the above question
When was the first time you tried a Cannabis product?
- ○ In the last 6 months
- ○ In the last 6 months to a year
- ○ 1–2 years ago
- ○ 2–5 years ago
- ○ 5–10 years ago
- ○ More than 10 years ago
How often do you use Cannabis?
- ○ Everyday/almost everyday
- ○ 3–4 times a week
- ○ 1–2 times a week
- ○ Once a month
- ○ Very infrequently
- ○ Bought it, still in the package
- ○ I tried it once and no longer use it
- ○ I no longer use Cannabis
Why did you first try a Cannabis product? Select all that apply:
- ○ Due to legalization on October 17th, 2018
- ○ Due to friends using it
- ○ Due to family using it
- ○ Due to a health professional recommending it
- ○ Because you wanted to see what it was like
- ○ Because you wanted an escape
- ○ For self-management of a medical condition or a symptom
- ○ Because it was given to me
How do you obtain your Cannabis products? Select all that apply:
- ○ A government dispensary
- ○ An independent dispensary/cannabis store
- ○ Online
- ○ Through a dealer
- ○ Grow your own
- ○ Supplied to me by a friend or relative
- ○ Other, please specify:
What types of Cannabis products do you or have you consumed? Select all that apply
- ○ Oils for ingestion
- ○ Edibles (candy, brownies, tea, etc)
- ○ Inhalation (smoking, vaping)
- ○ Topical (creams, rubs, etc)
- ○ Capsules for ingestion
- ○ Oral spray for ingestion
- ○ Concentrates (shatter, budder, wax, etc)
- ○ Other, please specify:__________
What is your preference for the Cannabis products you consume?
- ○ Oils for ingestion
- ○ Edibles (candy, brownies, tea, etc)
- ○ Inhalation (smoking, vaping)
- ○ Topical (creams, rubs, etc)
- ○ Capsules for ingestion
- ○ Oral spray for ingestion
- ○ Concentrates (shatter, budder, wax, etc)
- ○ Other, please specify:_________________
What type of Cannabis do you or have you used? Select all that apply:
- ○ CBD only
- ○ THC only
- ○ CBD/THC combination
- ○ Unsure
Who is aware of your Cannabis use? Select all that apply:
- ○ Friends
- ○ Family members
- ○ Doctor or other healthcare practitioners
- ○ Others, please specify:________
During the past year, have you ever experienced any of the following unwanted effects/side effects from using Cannabis? Select all that apply:
- ○ Feely dizzy, lightheaded or off balance
- ○ Falling
- ○ Felt unexpectedly sleepy or weak
- ○ Felt “high”
- ○ Hallucinated (saw or heard things that weren’t there, experienced visions)
- ○ Felt hung over the next day
- ○ Anxiety
- ○ Dry mouth
- ○ Blurred vision
- ○ Grogginess
- ○ Confusion
- ○ Other, please specify:_________
For what reason do you or did your previously use Cannabis? Select all that apply:
- ○ Recreational use
- ○ Medicinal use
The Next 3 Question were only asked to those who answered Medicinal to the above question.
What did you use cannabis to manage medicinally? Select all that apply:
- ○ Pain/Inflammation/Arthritis
- ○ Anxiety
- ○ Depression
- ○ Dementia
- ○ Insomnia/sleep issues
- ○ To help relax
- ○ Migraines/headaches
- ○ Nausea/Vomiting
- ○ Appetite issues
- ○ Cancer
- ○ Seizure/spasticity
- ○ Glaucoma
- ○ Other, please specify:________
- ○ Prefer not to say
How helpful did you find cannabis for managing your symptoms? (1-not at all helpful, 3-somewhat helpful, 5-very helpful)
- ○ 1
- ○ 2
- ○ 3
- ○ 4
- ○ 5
How do you view cannabis as opposed to prescription medication (1-less effective, 3-about the same, 5-more effective than prescription medications)
- ○ 1
- ○ 2
- ○ 3
- ○ 4
- ○ 5
Please rank your agreement with each of the following statements on a scale of 1–5
- ○ (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = somewhat disagree, 3 = neither agree nor disagree, 4-somewhat agree, 5 = strongly agree)
- ○ Cannabis is a reasonable alternative for symptoms not controlled by prescription or non-prescription medicines
- ○ There is not enough data on effectiveness of Cannabis in seniors
- ○ There is a negative stigma within my family and friend group towards Cannabis
- ○ Cannabis is effective for treatment of some symptoms in seniors (i.e., pain, sleep, etc.)
- ○ There is not enough data on safety of Cannabis use in seniors
- ○ Cannabis is reasonably easy to access
- ○ My healthcare providers have a negative stigma towards Cannabis use
- ○ Seniors are a higher risk of side effects from Cannabis when compared to younger adults
- ○ Cannabis is an affordable option for the management of medical symptoms
Has your perceptions of Cannabis changed since it was legalized in Canada on October 17th, 2018?
- ○ Yes
- ○ No
- ○ I am unsure
From whom/what would you like to learn more about Cannabis? Select all that apply:
- ○ Through my friends
- ○ Through my family
- ○ Through my family doctor
- ○ Through a nurse
- ○ Through a pharmacist
- ○ Through other healthcare professional, please specify:_____
- ○ Through an online website
- ○ Through cannabis shop staff
- ○ Through a newsletter
- ○ Other, please specify:________
Please rank your agreement with each of the following statements on a scale of 1–5
(1 = strongly disagree, 2 = somewhat disagree, 3 = neither agree nor disagree, 4 = somewhat agree, 5 = strongly agree)
- ○ Cannabis is safe to use with most medicines
- ○ Cannabis is safe for most seniors
- ○ Seniors should not use Cannabis
- ○ Information on Cannabis use is easy to access
- ○ My health care professionals are a good resource for information on Cannabis use
- ○ There is negative stigma surrounding Cannabis use in seniors
Footnotes
Footnote Group
References
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References
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