Growing medicine: Small-scale cannabis cultivation for medical purposes in six different countries

Hakkarainen, Pekka; Frank, Vibeke Asmussen; Barratt, Monica J.; Dahl, Helle Vibeke; Decorte, Tom; Karjalainen, Karoliina; Lenton, Simon; Potter, G. R.; Werse, Bernd

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.07.005

Cited by 29 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Sykes & Matza 1957). Similarly, other countries (such as Canada) allow for some legal medical cultivation -however, a full discussion of the different policies relating to medical-use cultivation and how these may relate to our findings is beyond the scope of the current paper (but see Hakkarainen et al 2015, for further discussion on growing for medical reasons). The desire to grow cannabis that was weaker, rather than stronger, than that available on the black-market was peculiar to Belgium, whereas the desire to grow cannabis that was stronger than available on the market was particularly important in America.…”

Section: Reasons For Growingmentioning

confidence: 81%

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Global patterns of domestic cannabis cultivation: sample characteristics and patterns of growing across eleven countries

et al. 2016

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Aims: To provide an overview of: demographic characteristics; experiences with growing cannabis; methods and scale of growing operations; reasons for growing; personal use of cannabis and other drugs; participation in cannabis and other drug markets; contacts with the criminal justice system for respondents to an online survey about cannabis cultivation drawn from eleven countries (N=6530). Important similarities and differences between the national samples recruited will be discussed.Method: This paper utilizes data from the online web survey of predominantly 'small-scale' cannabis cultivators in eleven countries conducted by the Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium (GCCRC). Here we focus primarily on descriptive statistics to highlight key similarities and differences across the different national samples.Findings: Overall there was a great deal of similarity across countries in terms of: demographic characteristics; experiences with growing cannabis; methods and scale of growing operations; reasons for growing; use of cannabis and other drugs; participation in cannabis and other drug markets, and contacts with the criminal justice system. In particular, we can recognise that a clear majority of those small-scale cannabis cultivators who responded to our survey is primarily motivated for reasons other than making money from cannabis supply and have 1

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Section: Reasons For Growingmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Other modules were added by sub-sets of participating countries to reflect the differing research interests of those involved (see e.g. Hakkarainen et al 2015, and Paoli & Decorte 2015. The ICCQ also includes items to test eligibility and recruitment source.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global patterns of domestic cannabis cultivation: sample characteristics and patterns of growing across eleven countries

et al. 2016

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“…It also may also merely be a strategy to divert stigmatisation by claiming cannabis cultivation and use for medical reasons. Overall, providing cannabis for medicinal reasons was one of the leading reasons for growing cannabis given by respondents from all the countries (see Hakkarainen et al, 2015;Hakkarainen et al, 2017). More research is needed on how medical cannabis policies may influence the motivation for smallscale cannabis growing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of cannabis cultivation in New Zealand and Israel

Wilkins

Sznitman

Decorte

et al. 2018

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of small-scale cannabis cultivation in New Zealand and Israel. Design/methodology/approach An online survey of predominantly small-scale cannabis cultivators had previously been conducted in 11 countries in 2012/2013. The same core online survey was subsequently conducted in New Zealand and Israel in 2016/2017, and comparisons made with the original 11 countries. Findings Only around one third of the New Zealand and Israeli cannabis growers had sold cannabis, and the majority of these did so only to cover the costs of cultivation. The median number of cannabis plants cultivated per crop by the New Zealand and Israeli growers was five and two, respectively. The leading reasons provided for growing cannabis by both the New Zealand and Israeli growers were to provide cannabis for personal use and to share with others. A higher proportion of New Zealand than Israeli growers reported growing cannabis for medicinal reasons. A total of 16 per cent of the New Zealand and 17 per cent of Israeli growers had come into contact with the police due to their cannabis cultivation. The findings suggest small-scale cannabis cultivation in New Zealand and Israel is largely a means of “social supply” of cannabis, and this is consistent with the findings from the original 11 countries. The higher incidence of growing cannabis for medicinal purposes in New Zealand may reflect the limited official access to medical cannabis. Significant minorities of small-scale cannabis growers in both countries had contact with police, putting them at risk of the negative consequences of a criminal conviction. Originality/value To date, the research into cannabis cultivation has largely consisted of studies of individual countries. However, given the global popularity of cannabis use, and the recent spread of cannabis cultivation to countries that traditionally have not produced cannabis, via utilisation of indoor growing techniques, there is now a strong case for international comparative research. Following the success of the surveys in the original 11 countries, New Zealand and Israeli members of the Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium international collaboration chose to undertake surveys in their own countries in 2016/2017.

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“…In a six-country survey of (illegal) cannabis cultivators, ADHD was the fifth (15.3%, n = 2,070) most commonly reported medical reason to grow and use cannabis, the most common ones being depression/anxiety and chronic pain [14]. According to the study, “Scandinavian growers seem to use cannabis for the treatment of ADHD more often than growers in other countries” [14, p. 253].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the study, “Scandinavian growers seem to use cannabis for the treatment of ADHD more often than growers in other countries” [14, p. 253]. In a qualitative interview study of 100 (illegal) cannabis users in Norway, alleviating ADHD symptoms was the most common medical motive reported by the users [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Cannabis for Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Sociological Patient Case Report of Cannabinoid Therapeutics in Finland

Hupli¹

2018

Med Cannabis Cannabinoids

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This paper presents a detailed patient case report of a male patient who was diagnosed in adulthood (aged 33) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and treated initially with immediate-release methylphenidate (Ritalin® 10 mg twice daily). After experiencing adverse effects from prolonged use of this medication and afterwards other medications that were prescribed as alternatives, the patient discovered that cannabinoid therapeutics (CT) had been experimented inside the EU area to treat patients with ADHD. Subsequently, he was evaluated by a physician in Germany (June 2010) who prescribed CT (Bedrocan®, Bediol®). A Finnish neurologist later confirmed the two prescribed medicines (Bedrocan®, October 2010; Bediol®, May 2011) in the patient’s own country of permanent residence (Finland). During a 5-year period of access, Bedrocan®, which mainly contains Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), was found to be helpful in alleviating the patient’s ADHD symptoms, in particular poor tolerance to frustration, outbursts of anger, boredom, and problems related to concentration. The second CT medication, Bediol®, which contains both Δ9-THC and the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol, was found to neutralize the excessive dronabinol effects of Bedrocan® as well as zo offer other medical benefits (e.g., improved sleep). In addition to the case report, this paper also offers a brief review of the literature surrounding the medical benefits of CT for AD(H)D, which includes observational studies, clinical case reports, and one randomized clinical experiment. This paper also briefly discusses the endocannabinoid system in relation to ADHD, although more preclinical and clinical research is warranted to establish the optimal levels of cannabinoids, terpenes, and dosing regimens, which vary between different ADHD patients.

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Growing medicine: Small-scale cannabis cultivation for medical purposes in six different countries

Cited by 29 publications

References 24 publications

Global patterns of domestic cannabis cultivation: sample characteristics and patterns of growing across eleven countries

Global patterns of domestic cannabis cultivation: sample characteristics and patterns of growing across eleven countries

Characteristics of cannabis cultivation in New Zealand and Israel

Medical Cannabis for Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Sociological Patient Case Report of Cannabinoid Therapeutics in Finland

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