Attitudes toward and knowledge of medical cannabis among individuals with spinal cord injury.

Study design: An observational study based on an online survey addressing attitudes toward and knowledge of cannabis among people living with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objectives: To characterize attitudes toward and knowledge of cannabis among a nationwide sample ( n  = 353) of people with SCI. To determine if knowledge and attitudes are influenced by socio-demographic and injury-specific factors.

Setting: Three academic medical centers in the US.

Methods: Distribution of an online survey through email lists maintained by 3 SCI centers.

Results: Participants largely believed that cannabis use is safe, has potential therapeutic benefits, and ought to be legal. Substantial pluralities felt that cannabis use is attended by moderate to great health-related and social risks (15.5% and 25.5%, respectively), and a majority (55.9%) felt it is attended by moderate to great legal risks. Subjects' duration of injury, employment status, and personal history of controlled or illicit substances influenced certain beliefs and attitudes.

Conclusions: This study is the first to assess beliefs about and attitudes toward cannabis use among a nationwide sample of people with SCI. While limited, it provides a roadmap for future research. It also offers medical providers an initial understanding of which factors may encourage or dissuade their patients with SCI from seeking medical cannabis treatment.