Experiences and perceptions of medical cannabis among people living with chronic pain and community pharmacists: a qualitative study in Canada

Abstract

Background The use of cannabis to treat chronic pain is under debate despite high expectations from patients. Qualitative data exploring both patients’ and health professionals’ perspectives are scarce.Aims This study aimed to understand the experiences and perceptions of people living with chronic pain and community pharmacists regarding the role of cannabis in chronic pain treatment, in the Canadian context where both medical and recreational cannabis are legal.Methods We conducted 12 online focus groups (July 2020-Februrary 2021), with 26 patients and 19 community pharmacists using semi-structured discussion guides. All discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim were analyzed using a reflexive thematic approach.Results We developed three themes related to patients’ perspectives and three themes related to pharmacists’ perspectives. Patients’ perspectives: (1) Cannabis as an alternative to other pain medications; (2) A new treatment with potential health-related risks; (3) A therapy rather than a recreational drug. Pharmacists’ perspectives: (1) Challenges in monitoring drug interactions with cannabis in the context of scarce research data; (2) Informing and treating patients self-medicating with cannabis amid its growing popularity; (3) Financial costs and legal constraints for patients.Conclusions This study highlights patients’ and pharmacists’ urgent need for reliable information regarding the benefits and risks of cannabis. Training tailored to pharmacists’ needs and evidence-based information for patients should be developed to support pharmacists’ practice, improve patients’ experience and promote safe cannabis use.