LGBTQA+ patients start medical cannabis earlier, primarily for mental health

LGBTQA+ people are at greater risk of using cannabis at earlier ages, in greater frequencies and quantities and over longer periods of time compared with their cisgendered, heterosexual peers. Prescribed medicinal cannabis is becoming increasingly commonly utilised in Australia to treat a variety of conditions including pain, mental health diagnoses and sleep. There is currently little research looking into the motivations and experiences of LGBTQA+ people accessing medical cannabis (MC) through healthcare providers. To explore differences in patterns, reasons for using, and experiences of accessing medicinal cannabis between LGBTQA+ people and their cisgender, heterosexual peers. We utilised data collected from an online anonymous cross-sectional survey of individuals (CAMS-22 survey), consisting of adult Australians who had utilised cannabis to treat a medical condition in the previous year. Participants were asked questions about their gender and sexuality, demographic characteristics, patterns and characteristics of MC use, conditions treated, and accessibility to and satisfaction of treatment. Of the 3107 respondents included in these analyses, 2332 (77.3%) self-identified as heterosexual and 686 (22.7%) as sexually diverse. Over 95% of participants identified as cisgender (n = 2932), with only 148 (4.8%) identifying as trans. Sexually diverse participants commenced regular MC use at an earlier age, were more likely to identify a mental health condition and less likely to identify pain as their primary reason for MC consumption, and reported less satisfaction with treatment compared to heterosexuals-primarily around provision of information. Trans participants commenced MC use at an earlier age; were more likely to identify a mental health condition or sleep as their primary reason for MC use; and also reported less satisfaction with treatment than their cisgender counterparts for more interpersonal reasons. LGBTQA+ people use cannabis for medical purposes at significantly earlier ages and primarily to address mental health and substance use concerns. Future research should explore ways in which prescribers can specifically tailor support to meet all physical and mental health needs of LGBTQA+ people, (beyond simply prescribing MC), not only through treatments that they offer, but also through adjunct and complementary services.