Exploring medicinal use of low-THC cannabis products - Comparing experienced effects and side-effects between CBD-oil-only users to users of high-THC cannabis products

Figures & data

Table 1. User characteristics.

	Users of high-THC cannabis 1.650 (62,4)	Users of CBD-oil-only 992 (37,6)
	n (%)	n (%)	OR (95% CI) of CBD-oil-only use
Demographics
Female	868 (52.6)	791 (79.7)	3.37*** (2.77–4.11)
Mean age (18–89)	46.2 (SD 13.6)	53.2 (SD 11.7)	1.04*** (1.03–1.05)
Higher education^a	723 (43.8)	540 (54.4)	1.03 (0.86–1.22)
Full time occupation	493 (29.9)	282 (28.4)	1.61*** (1.31–1.95)
Condition(s) treated with CaM^b
Somatic condition	1.195 (72.4)	764 (77)	0.87 (0.71–1.06)
Mental health condition	761 (46,1)	243 (24.5)	0.57*** (0.47–0.68)
Chronic pain	577 (35)	296 (29.8)	0.70*** (0.59–0.84)
Sleep disturbances	578 (35)	189 (19.1)	0.50*** (0.41–0.61)
Stress	513 (31.1)	153 (15.4)	0.58*** (0.46–0.72)
Mean number of conditions treated with CaM	3.7 (SD 2.7)	2.6 (SD 1.9)	***
Prescription for medical cannabis^b
No	1.449 (87.8)	948 (95.6)	1.00 (reference)
Yes	115 (7)	29 (2.9)	0.25*** (0.16–0.39)
Yes and I supplement with unregulated cannabis	73 (4.4)	14 (1.4)	0.20*** (0.11–0.37)
Missing	13 (0.8)	1 (0.1)	–
Recreational experience before use of CaM^b
Experienced (lifetime use > 5 times)	851 (51.6)	81 (8.2)	1.00 (reference)
Novice (lifetime use < 5 times)	764 (46,3)	895 (90.2)	8.56***(6.57–11.16)
Missing	35 (2.1)	16 (1.6)	–
Frequency of use of CaM^b
Non-daily user (5 days a week or less)	440 (26.7)	144 (14.5)	1.00 (reference)
Daily user (7–6 days a week)	1.205 (73)	845 (85.2)	1.92 *** (1.54–2.39)
Missing	5 (0.3)	3. (0.3)	–
Types of cannabis used
THC-oil	653 (39.6)	–
CBD-oil	719 (43,6)	992 (100)
Hash, pot or skunk	979 (59.3)	–
Cannabis based medicine (Marinol, Sativex, Nabilone)	165 (10)	–
Whole plant trial (Bedrocan, Bediol)	54 (3.3)	–
Other	212 (12.9)	–
Missing	24 (1.5)	–

Notes: ***p < 0.001.

^a Post secondary education or higher.

^b Controlled for age and gender.

Figure 1. Experienced effect of cannabis on symptoms related to condition treated. Mean effect across all condition for users of high-THC cannabis and users of CBD-oil-only.

Table 2. Symptoms relieved by use of CaM.

	Users of high-THC cannabis 1.650 (62,4)	CBD-oil-only user. 992 (37,6)	OR of CBD-oil-only use
	n (%)	n (%)	OR (CI 95%)
Symptoms
Pain	1.192 (72.2)	663 (66.8)	0.76** (0.63–0.93)
Sleep disturbances	1.145 (69.4)	481 (48.5)	0.57*** (0.47–0.69)
Muscle tension	860 (52.1)	392 (39.5)	0.71*** (0.59–0.84)
Inner turmoil	1.012 (61.3)	379 (38.2)	0.63*** (0.52–0.77)
Stress	846 (51.3)	254 (25.6)	0.54*** (0.43–0.68)
Racing thoughts	766 (46.4)	232 (23.4)	0.60*** (0.49–0.75)
Thoughts of worry	743 (45)	199 (20.1)	0.51*** (0.41–0.63)
Depressed mood	681 (41.3)	188 (19)	0.50*** (0.40–0.63)
Other	197 (11.9)	167 (16.8)	1.21 (0.95–1.55)
Irritability	676 (41)	136 (13.7)	0.40*** (0.32–0.51)
Nausea	502 (30.4)	107 (10.8)	0.38** (0.30–0.48)
Lack of appetite	628 (38.1)	61 (6.2)	0.16*** (0.12–0.22)
Essential Tremor	162 (9.8)	47 (4.7)	0.59** (0.41–0.85)
Spasticity	148 (9)	47 (4.7)	0.50*** (0.35–0.72)
No effect on any symptoms	34 (2.1)	34 (3.4)	1.75* (1.04–2.95)
Nightmares	295 (17.9)	34 (3.4)	0.32*** (0.21–0.47)
Hyperactivity	360 (21.8)	33 (3.3)	0.26*** (0.17–0.29)
Vomiting	189 (11.5)	28 (2.8)	0.36*** (0.23–0.55)
Tics	111 (6.7)	19 (1.9)	0.47** (0.28–0.78)
Don’t know/no answer	18 (1.1)	16 (1.6)	–
Mean number of symptoms	6.4 (SD 4)	3.6 (SD 2.6)	***

Notes: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

^a Controlled for age, gender and type of condition treated with cannabis.

Table 3. Effect of CaM on pain and sleep.

	Users of high-THC cannabis 1.650 (62,4)	CBD-oil-only user. 992 (37,6)
Pain level on a VAS-score (0: no pain − 10: worst pain imaginable)
	n = 1.192	n = 663
Without use of cannabis	M 7.5 (SD 1.8)	M 7.5 (SD 1.7)
With use of cannabis	M 2.9 (SD 1.8)	M 3 (SD 1.7)
Overall pain reduction	4.6	4.5
Sleep improvement	n = 1,145	n = 481
Quantitative improvement	847 (74)	312 (64.9)
Qualitative improvement	198 (17.3)	131 (27.2)
Missing	100 (8.7)	38 (7.9)
	n = 847	n = 312
Quantitative sleep improvement (hours of sleep)	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)
Without use of cannabis	4.2 (SD 1.7)	4.5 (SD 1.7)
With use of cannabis	7.4 (SD 1.2)	7.2 (SD 1.1)
Overall improvement	3.2 hours	2.7 hours

Table 4. Side effects from use of CaM.

	Users of high-THC cannabis 1.650 (62,4)	CBD-oil only-user. 992 (37.6)	OR of CBD-oil-only use
	n (%)	n (%)	OR (CI 95%)
Side effects
No side effects of cannabis	675 (40.9)	726 (73.2)	2.90*** (2.42–3.48)
Other	167 (10.1)	75 (7.6)	0.82 (0.60–1.11)
Dryness of mouth	540 (32.7)	63 (6.4)	0.19*** (0.15–0.26)
Diarrhea	58 (3.5)	47 (4.7)	1.39 (0.91–2.13)
Headache	44 (2.7)	35 (3.5)	1.58 (0.97–2.60)
Increased tiredness	190 (11.5)	35 (3.5)	0.41*** (0.28–0.61)
Heartburn	41 (2.5)	29 (2.9)	1.39 (0.82–2.35)
Sweating	81 (4.9)	23 (2.3)	0.41** (0.25–0.68)
Dizziness	71 (4.3)	14 (1.4)	0.38* (0.20–0.69)
Constipation	21 (1.3)	14 (1.4)	1.36 (0.65–2.83)
Dry skin	16 (1)	12 (1.2)	1.45 (0.62–3.38)
Palpitations/elevated pulse	90 (5.5)	12 (1.2)	0.31*** (0.17–0.59)
Memory impairment	211 (12.8)	8 (0.8)	0.11*** (0.05–0.22)
Being high	403 (24.4)	7 (0.7)	0.03*** (0.02–0.07)
Muscle fatigue	30 (1.8)	3 (0.3)	0.24* (0.07–0.87)
Irritability	19 (1.2)	3 (0.3)	0.39 (0.11–1.43)
Red eyes	345 (20.9)	2 (0.2)	0.02*** (0.00–0.06)
Thoughts of worry	33 (2)	2 (0.2)	0.16* (0.04–0.72)
Anxiety	42 (2.6)	1 (0.1)	0.09* (0.01–0.67)
Passing psychosis	13 (0.8)	0 (0)	No data
Don’t know/no answer	27 (1.6)	20 (2)	–
Mean number of side effects	1.5 (SD 1.8)	0.4 (SD 0.8)	***

Notes: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

^a Controlled for age, gender and type of condition treated with cannabis.

Table

Pain	Estimate	Std. error	T value	95% CI
Intercept	12.33	0.09	140.63	12.15, 12.5
Only CBD	−0.16	0.07	−2.11	−0.30,-0.01
Women	−0.55	0.07	−7.44	−0.70,-0.40
Age	0.004	0.003	1.79	−0.00,0.01
After CaM	−4.56	0.05	−98.46	−4.66,-4.47

Table

Sleep	Estimate	Std. error	T value	95% CI
Intercept	1.17	0.09	12.70	0.99,1.36
Only CBD	0.14	0.09	1.70	−0.02, 0.31
Women	0.01	0.08	0.11	−0.15,0.16
Age	−0.01	0.00	−4.23	−0.02,-0.01
After CaM	3.04	0.05	61.75	2.94, 3.13