2019 Veterans Health and Medical Cannabis Study: Massachusetts Preliminary Results

Abstract

The anonymous 2019 Veterans Health and Medical Cannabis Study was a national and Massachusetts-focused research study conceived by Dr. Marion McNabb, CEO of Cannabis Center of Excellence, and Stephen Mandile, CEO of United Mass Wellness, an Iraqi War Veteran and medical cannabis advocate. The research study utilized a 100+-question anonymous survey online and recruited U.S. Military veterans to take the survey using a convenience sampling approach. The survey questions were developed using standard scales found in the literature, with input from Dr. Staci Gruber from McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. The objective was to collect anonymous, self-reported data from U.S. military veterans regarding their current health conditions, conventional medical treatments, medical cannabis use and its effectiveness with self-reported health conditions and symptoms, and issues related to access and stigma. Study data collection lasted from 3 March – 31 December 2019, and a total of 565 US military veterans completed the survey, of which 201 were from Massachusetts.

Keywords: Veterans cannabis study, consumer wellness, perceived benefits of cannabis consumption

JEL Classification: M38, M00, K23, I19