A survey-based assessment of marijuana (MJ) use in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD)

Due to marijuana’s controlled status, little quality research and no clear provider guidelines exist regarding medical applications in disease populations such as PD. Patients are also apprehensive of marijuana treatments due to lack of scientific evidence. The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­’s position statement supports research to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of cannabis and related compounds for medical use. There is limited data on the effect of MJ on motor and non-motor symptoms in PD.

An anonymous 11 question survey was distributed to PD patients at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center Neurology clinic and local PD support groups.

Of the 77 completed surveys, 33 MJ users rated modification of 15 symptoms on a -5 to +5 scale, much worsened to much improved. Subjects used a variety of MJ products for over a year (63.7%) and 50% were daily users, reporting significant average* symptom relief for pain (+3.32±0.53), sleep (+3.16±0.65), anxiety (+2.70±0.83), stiffness (+2.13±0.60), and tremor (+2.17±0.73). Subjects reported modest improvements in other symptoms such as dyskinesia (+1.56±0.62), and bradykinesia (+1.48±0.67). Subjects did not report average negative impact on any symptom. 87.7% of subjects who denied using MJ indicated they were open to it in the future. 

*95% confidence intervals, normal distribution

Our research indicates overwhelming interest in MJ use and self-experimentation in the PD community. Subjects using MJ reported encouraging subjective relief of motor symptoms such as stiffness and tremor, as well as relief of non-motor symptoms like pain, sleep, and anxiety. Notably patients did not report average negative impact on any symptoms measured in this survey, suggesting that MJ use is well tolerated in this population. These results support a continued need for research investigating the benefits and risks of MJ use in PD patients.