Surprising Marijuana Statistics

5 Surprising Marijuana Statistics

Marijuana is a fascinating treatment and recreational drug that continues to grow in popularity. It’s now legal all over Canada, as well as many other places in the world. What’s more, research shows that the drug has a positive impact on many people- both recreational and medical users. There are many surprising marijuana statistics which show just how beneficial it can be.

If you use marijuana, you’re far from alone. It’s now used by people of all ages and backgrounds. Plus, with more and more medical uses being identified, it’s becoming a very popular treatment for a range of health conditions. Here are some surprising marijuana statistics you might not expect.

92% of Medical Marijuana Patients Say It Works

In the past, people may have scowled at the idea that weed could be used as a medical treatment. However, scientific research favors it. In fact, studies show that marijuana helps with pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, glaucoma, and many other medical symptoms and conditions. It seems that patients also agree.

A survey in California found that 92% of patients vouch for the efficacy of medical marijuana. Prevalence of the treatment is growing, with 5% of adults in California using marijuana for medical purposes at one point or another. Users were people of all ages, backgrounds, and with all kinds of medical conditions, but all agreed that medical marijuana was effective in treating their symptoms.

Medical Marijuana Patients
5 Surprising Marijuana Statistics

Over 75% of Doctors Approve of Medical Marijuana

It isn’t just the patients who vouch for the use of medical marijuana, either. A survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that health professionals also approve of medical marijuana. In fact, 76% of doctors agreed that they would recommend medical marijuana to patients in need.

With medical marijuana programs becoming more and more popular in the US, it seems that attitudes towards the treatment are changing. Over three-quarters of doctors polled in the US agreed it has health benefits for patients. 78% of doctors outside the US also said that they would prescribe medical marijuana to patients.

The doctors in the survey noted that patients should be able to exercise their personal choice, and many gained significant benefits from marijuana. With its numerous health benefits, medical marijuana can improve the quality of life for patients with all kinds of health conditions.

Over 4.5 Million Canadians Use Cannabis

The cannabis market in Canada is taking off with adults now legally able to smoke cannabis as they please. StatCan regularly collects statistics on cannabis use across the country, with the fourth quarter 2018 results showing that around 4,629,700 Canadians now use marijuana.

At just around 15.4% of the national population, it may seem slightly low. However, this is likely to grow more as more legal pot stores open up around the country. The number of people using cannabis also varied depending on the province. Surprisingly, it’s Nova Scotia residents who partake the most with 21.6% using cannabis. Newfoundland and Labrador were the next highest at 19.2%, whereas only 13.6% of Quebec residents used it.

Statistics are also given for genders and age groups. It seems that more men smoke weed than women, with 19.4% of men in comparison to 11.3% of women being regular users. 27.4% of users are aged 15 to 24 and 23.2% are aged 25 to 34. After this, rates get significantly lower, although marijuana use in older people may grow as medical marijuana becomes more widespread.

Cannabis Reduces Depression and Anxiety by 50%

Medical cannabis users use it to treat all kinds of symptoms, from chronic pain to seizures. However, one of the most common uses is for anxiety and depression. Many adults suffer from anxiety and depression symptoms in many forms, but a study from WSU shows that marijuana can help significantly.

The study found that medical cannabis users felt a 50% reduction in depression after use. Users also experienced a 58% reduction in anxiety and stress. Effects were felt within just two puffs of cannabis, showing just how quickly and effectively it can relieve these symptoms.

The research found that cannabis high in CBD was the best for treating both anxiety and depression. High THC cannabis strains were the best for reducing stress. While cannabis shouldn’t be relied upon as a sole treatment for severe depression or anxiety, the results show it can be incredibly helpful for reducing and managing symptoms.

Cannabis Reduces Depression

42% of CBD Users Stop Using Traditional Medications

While many smoke weed for the medical effects of cannabis, CBD use is also very popular. CBD enables patients to get the medical effects of cannabis without getting high. It often comes in the form of oils, topicals, and edibles, although you can also use marijuana strains high in CBD.

CBD users also view the substance extremely positively. A large-scale survey by HelloMD found that 80% of CBD users found it very effective as a medical treatment. What’s more, 42% of CBD users found it so useful that they stopped using traditional medications.

CBD products are particularly helpful as they provide medical benefits without any harmful side effects. There’s no risk of overdose or addiction and CBD offers a risk-free way to get the health perks of cannabis. As such, this makes it much safer than medications such as opioids and antidepressants which often come with harmful effects in the long-run.

Conclusion

As more studies and statistics on marijuana arise, it seems attitudes towards it are becoming more positive. Sales are growing significantly across the US and Canada, as are the kind of people using it. Medical use is also extremely popular, with many people choosing medical marijuana or CBD over traditional alternatives.

It helps that it’s now very easy to use cannabis. In Canada, you can buy marijuana online for delivery anywhere in the country. It’s safe and legal for anyone aged 19 or above, and there are many ways to enjoy it, including flower strains, concentrates, and edibles. As time goes on, it’s likely that marijuana use will grow even further and more people will reap the benefits.

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