Researchers from the University of Rochester and Harvard Medical School are conducting a survey to help better understand how people living with chronic pain feel about using cannabinoids, including marijuana and CBD, to treat their pain. They also want to learn how well cannabinoids have worked for those who have tried them. The goal of this survey is to learn about peoples’ experiences and opinions to inform future research, policy, and patient care with cannabinoids for chronic pain.

They are eager to hear from people who have never tried cannabinoids for pain, who have tried them and stopped, or who are currently using cannabinoids to treat pain.

Please share this opportunity with your patients or other networks that might be interested.

If you have chronic pain, no matter how you feel about cannabinoids, this is an important survey. Please only respond to the survey if you are at least 18 years old.

The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

You can learn more about the study by reading the information sheet below.

INFORMATION SHEET

Cannabinoid use for chronic pain: Understanding the perspectives of individuals with chronic pain

Principal Investigators: Jennifer Gewandter, PhD, MPH; Roy Freeman, MD

This study is being conducted by Jennifer Gewandter, PhD, MPH, from the University of Rochester and Roy Freeman, MD from Harvard Medical School.

The purpose of this study is to better understand how people who live with chronic pain feel about using cannabinoids (including prescribed medications, CBD, or whole plant cannabis (marijuana)) to treat their pain. We also want to learn how well cannabinoids have worked for those who have tried them. We want to learn about peoples’ experiences to inform future research, policy, and patient care with cannabinoids for chronic pain.

If you decide to take part in this study, you will be asked to complete one survey that will take about 10-15 minutes. The survey will ask questions about what types of chronic pain you have and what treatments you use for the pain. It will ask if you currently use or have previously used cannabinoids to treat chronic pain. If you have used or are using cannabinoids to treat chronic pain, the survey will ask how well they are working or worked, what side effects (if any) you experienced, what type of cannabinoids you use or used, how you get (or got) your cannabinoids, and whether you discuss (or discussed) your cannabinoid treatments with your clinician. We will not collect any personal identifiable information from you so your responses cannot be linked to you.

We estimate that approximately 300 participants will take part in this study.

If any of the survey questions are upsetting or make you feel uncomfortable, you can skip any of the questions you do not want to answer. There are no other expected risks. There are also no expected benefits.

You will not be paid for participating in this study.

Funds to support this study are being provided by GW Pharmaceuticals, who will have access to the final data but the data will not have any identifying information.

Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. You are free not to participate or to withdraw at any time, for whatever reason.

For more information or questions about this research you may email Jennifer Gewandter, PhD, MPH (jennifer_gewandter@urmc.rochester.edu) or Roy Freeman, MD (freeman@bidmc.harvard.edu).

By taking the survey, you are agreeing to participate in the survey.