A National Survey Study of Cannabis Use During Menopause: Identifying Variables Associated with Recreational, Medical, and Hybrid Use

Objective: Previous research has demonstrated different cannabis-related outcomes depending on the goal of cannabis use (i.e., recreational, medical, hybrid of both), underscoring the need to identify variables associated with specific goals of use, particularly in understudied populations.

Method: This report utilized data from a national survey of menopausal individuals using non-probability sampling. Respondents reporting current regular (≥1x/month) cannabis use (medical n=35, recreational n=61, and hybrid n=102) were included in multivariate logistic regression analyses examining demographic, clinical (e.g., menopause-related symptomatology), and cannabis-related variables associated with goal of cannabis use.

Results: Overall, increased number of medical conditions was associated with medical and hybrid use relative to recreational use (ps≤.047), and greater menopause-related symptomatology was associated with medical relative to hybrid use (p=.001). Lower education level was associated with hybrid relative to recreational use (p=.010). Lastly, increased number of modes of use was associated with hybrid use relative to medical and recreational use (ps≤.001).

Conclusions: Results suggest medical and hybrid consumers with more medical conditions and more severe clinical symptoms that are not sufficiently alleviated by conventional treatments may be more open to cannabinoid-based therapies. Additionally, as lower education level is often associated with recreational cannabis use, results suggest hybrid consumers may begin as recreational consumers who then expand their use for medical purposes. Further, more varied modes of use for hybrid consumers may reflect different product selection based on goal of use. Future research should investigate the etiology of hybrid cannabis use and predictors of long-term outcomes associated with goals of use.