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Cannabis Health & Research Initiative

The National Cannabis Study

FAQs

Question: What is the purpose of this study?

Answer:
The goal of the study is to measure the impact of medicinal cannabis use on patient health. The data we collect will help determine whether use of cannabis to help a variety of health conditions is likely to be helpful, harmful, or result in no change for most patients and will also help patients and providers select the type of product and dose that is most likely to maximize benefit and minimize harm.

Question: Who is eligible to participate in this study?

Answer:
We are looking for adults who are interested in trying cannabis for a medical purpose (for example, to help with sleep, anxiety, pain, cancer, etc.) and plan to try it within the next 2 months.

Question: I’m currently using cannabis. Can I enroll in the study?

Answer:
Occasional cannabis use over the past six months is OK, but if you currently use cannabis routinely please consider enrolling in the Observational Research Registry hosted by our project partner, Realm of Caring.

Question: What will I be required to do if I participate?

Answer:
You will be asked to complete four web-based surveys: one baseline survey before you begin using cannabis and three follow-up surveys after you begin using cannabis. These follow-up surveys are requested 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months after initiating therapeutic cannabis use.

Question: How long is the study?

Answer:
The study will take about 12 months to complete. You will be asked to fill out 1 survey before you start using medical cannabis and then additional surveys 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months after beginning cannabis use.

Question: When can I start using cannabis after enrolling in the study?

Answer:
Anytime after completing the baseline survey. Your follow-up surveys should only be taken if you’ve started using cannabis.

Question: What are the potential risks of participating?

Answer:
Participation in the study only consists of answering questions on a computer/tablet/or phone, so there are few risks. The greatest possible risk is breach of confidentiality. Our data servers are HIPAA compliant, firewall-protected, encrypted, and password protected. All staff have been trained in human subjects research. We also have a Certificate of Confidentiality that protects us from being required to disclose your information to anyone (for example, doctors, police, employers, government) without your permission.

Question: Will I be compensated for participating in the study?

Answer:
Yes. You will receive a $25 gift card for each completed survey (up to $100).

Question: Who can I contact if I have questions during the study?

Answer:
For general questions about the study, email [email protected]. If you experience any technical issues while completing a survey, please contact [email protected].

Question: Can I access my data?

Answer:
Yes, you can request access to your data. Please submit a request by contacting [email protected]. Please include your name and the email address used during the study so we can identify your records.

Question: Who can access my data?

Answer:
Only the study team will have access to identifying information (PHI). You may request a copy of your data at any time. Researchers who have approval of an institutional review board (IRB) may be granted access to data you provide that does not identify who you are (i.e., anonymous data that excludes your name, contact information, or any other data that could be used to identify you as a study participant).

Question: What will you do with my data and how is my privacy protected?

Answer:
We will anonymize your data to ensure it cannot be traced back to any individual. The anonymized data will be used for publishing research on cannabis and will be incorporated into a data repository to support future research and enhance our understanding of the subject.

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National Cannabis Study

Share your experience with medical cannabis with researchers.

All study procedures are subject to oversight by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and covered by a certificate of confidentiality (CoC).