A new nationwide survey published in AJPM Focus finds that access to medical marijuana varies significantly depending on state laws, with major implications for how patients use it and whether they disclose it to their doctors.
Researchers at California State University Channel Islands surveyed nearly 3,000 U.S. adults in 2023, with 996 identifying as medical marijuana users. They found that 43.1% of participants in fully legal states reported using marijuana medically, compared to just 27% in prohibition states. Anxiety (65.9%), depression (48%), and chronic pain (37%) were the top reported conditions, and smoking remained the most common method of use at 74.3%.
Despite broad usage, barriers remain. More than 43% of medical marijuana users had not told their primary care provider, with 40% citing fear of disapproval and over 27% citing legal concerns—even in states where medical marijuana was allowed. Cost was another major challenge, with 45% of respondents reporting financial barriers, and over half saying they used less marijuana because of expense.
Effectiveness ratings were generally positive: 32.3% said marijuana was “a great deal” effective, 35.3% rated it “quite a bit” effective, 22.4% said it helped a moderate amount, 7.7% slightly, and 2.2% not at all.
The findings underscore both the growing acceptance of medical marijuana and the persistent policy and communication gaps that affect how patients use it. Researchers say more work is needed to address costs, patient–provider dialogue, and the clinical implications of marijuana use across diverse populations.
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