Stigma among California’s Medical Marijuana Patients

Abstract

The enactment of California's Proposition 215 stipulates that patients may use marijuana for medical reasons, provided that it is recommended by a physician. Yet, medical marijuana patients risk being stigmatized for this practice. This paper examines the way in which medical marijuana patients perceive and process stigma, and how it affects their interactions and experiences with others. Eighteen semi-structured interviews of medical marijuana patients were carried out using a semi-structured interview guide. Most patients circumvented their own physicians in obtaining a recommendation to use medicinal marijuana, and also used a host of strategies in order to justify their medical marijuana use to family, friends and colleagues in order to stave off potential stigma. The stigmatization of medical marijuana thus has a profound effect on how patients seek treatment, and whether they seek medical marijuana treatment at all.

Prevalence, reasons, perceived effects, and correlates of medical marijuana use: A review

“…In most studies, MMU was assessed based on self-reports and relied on a small subset of patients, which might lead to less reliable prevalence estimates. Especially, the accuracy of self-reported responses are subject to bias due to the stigma associated with MMU (Satterlund et al, 2015). In some studies, there was a lack of information on patient’s medical conditions, which might lead to inaccurate proportions of people using MM for pain.…”

Chronic pain patients' perspectives of medical cannabis

“…Perceived bias against MC and being viewed as a “pothead” or “stoner” has also been identified in studies of individuals in California. 25 Potential stigma may contribute to patients obtaining their certification for MC from healthcare providers with whom they do not have a long-term relationship. Effective healthcare delivery depends upon effective communication between patients and providers.…”

“…5 Similarly, interviews of MC patients in California revealed that the negative connotations associated with marijuana caused them to delay raising this topic with healthcare providers. 25 The objective of this report was to expand upon this foundation and examine both the strengths and limitations of MC in the northeastern United States.…”

Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles

“…§ 329-122, 2016). In addition, despite an overall increase in acceptance of cannabis, qualitative studies indicate that patients still report perception of stigma associated with its use (Bottorff et al, 2013; Gates, Copeland, Swift, & Martin, 2012; Satterlund, Lee, & Moore, 2015). Adolescent female recreational users also expressed concern about the lingering odor of cannabis following smoking (Friese, Slater, Annechino, & Battle, 2016).…”