2025/10/29 by Vinuli Withanarachchie, Chris Wilkins, Karl Parker +1 · 1 voice
Medicine · #Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research #Opioid Use Disorder Treatment #Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
paper · doi:10.1111/dar.70063
openalex created_date 2025/10/29 · openalex publication_date 2025/10/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/24
INTRODUCTION: Studies indicate that access to prescribed medicinal cannabis (MC) is influenced by demographic factors, though few have explored the roles of ethnicity and income. Patients' perceptions of physician support for MC may be an important barrier. New Zealand implemented a legal MC scheme in 2020. This paper aimed to identify demographic predictors of accessing an MC prescription and perceptions of physician support for MC. METHODS: An anonymous online survey (New Zealand Drug Trends Survey), promoted via Meta was completed by 10,781 New Zealanders aged 16+ years in 2024. This paper focuses on 1742 respondents who used cannabis primarily for medicinal purposes in the previous 6 months. Logistic regression models predicted obtaining MC prescriptions, perceived physician refusal to prescribe, and perceptions of physician support. RESULTS: Mental health (73.8%), sleep (71.6%) and pain (59.5%) were most treated with MC. Two-fifths of female MC users (41.5%) were treating women's health conditions. MC prescriptions were less common among females, Māori, Pacific Peoples, lower income-earners (≤ 60,000) and those treating substance dependency. Individuals aged 60+ years, tertiary educated, with a medical diagnosis, earning 60,001+, treating sleep, gastrointestinal, neurological, or mental health were more likely to be MC prescription holders. Younger individuals, not employed, Māori or Pacific were more likely not to request a MC prescription because of anticipated refusal. Older MC prescription holders perceived more support from physicians for MC use. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic, gender and socio-economic disparities limit access to MC prescriptions. Improving equitable access to legal MC requires greater support for open patient-physician conversations about MC use.