“To characterize the socio-demographic characteristics, medical conditions, and psychiatric comorbidities of users of marijuana for medical and non-medical purposes.

RESULTS:

In relation to non-medical only users (n = 3339), combined (n = 362) and medical only (n = 82) users had higher prevalence of every medical condition examined. As compared to the combined use group, those using marijuana only for medical purposes were much less likely to have anxiety, alcohol, or non-medical prescription opioid use disorders.

CONCLUSIONS:

Medical-only users appear to use it for evidence-based medical reasons and have lower prevalence of substance use disorder than other marijuana users. Nonetheless, because most medical marijuana users also use non-medically, screening for psychiatric disorders and prevention efforts for cannabis use disorder should be implemented when authorizing medical marijuana.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30557813

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871618305660?via%3Dihub