This study was performed specifically to report on the habits of cannabis (marijuana) consumption among fibromyalgia patients in Israel. An internet based questionnaire which protected anonymity was posted to 3 large fibromyalgia Facebook groups in that country. There were 383 respondents.
The mean age was 42, and 84% of them reported using cannabis, although only 44% of them had obtained a medical license. 80% of those who consumed, smoked it either as pure cannabis or mixed it with tobacco. The self reported benefits were rather astounding.
94% of users reported pain relief, 93% reported improved sleep quality, 87% reported improvement in depression, 62% reported improvement in anxiety, 74% reported driving “as usual” under cannabis, and 64% worked full or part time jobs.
Only 12% reported adverse events, and only 8% reported dependence. Interestingly, 55% of those with a medical license bought additional marijuana on the black market to augment the amount they were medically “allowed”.
The abstract. The study in the Journal of Pain Research and Treatment.
