Reasons for Marijuana Use and Its Perceived Effectiveness in Therapeutic and Recreational Marijuana Users Among People Living with HIV in Florida

Abstract

Background: Therapeutic and recreational marijuana use are common among people living with HIV (PLWH). There is limited evidence about differences in marijuana use reasons and perceived effects among therapeutic and recreational users. We compare reasons for use and reason-specific perceived marijuana effectiveness in therapeutic and recreational marijuana users among PLWH in Florida.

Methods: The study was conducted in three Florida counties between 2018-2019. Sociodemographics, reasons for marijuana use, effectiveness, and use motivation (therapeutic, recreational, both equally) of 213 PLWH were collected via questionnaires. Marijuana effectiveness scores were rated as 0-10, with 10 being the most effective. Mean scores were compared in motivation categories by ANOVA (p-value <0.05 is significant).

Results: The mean age was 48±12, 59% were males, and 69% were African American. The most frequent main use reasons in “Therapeutic” (n=63, 37%), “Recreational” (n=48, 28%), and “Both equally” (n=59, 35%) categories were “Pain,” “To get high,” and “To relax,” respectively. In the “Therapeutic” and “Both equally” category, the mean effectiveness scores for “Pain,” “To reduce anger” were significantly higher than the “Recreational” category. In the “Both equally” category, the mean effectiveness scores for “To feel better in general,” “To get high,” and “To relax” were significantly higher than the other two categories.

Conclusion: Marijuana is perceived to be effective for a range of reasons among PLWH. However, there are significant differences in the main use reasons and perceived marijuana effectiveness for anxiety or stress, pain, feeling better in general, getting high, reducing anger, and relaxation by use motivation.