At a time of growing interest in the use of cannabis, increasing research into its efficacy, and the introduction of new regulations and legislation on cannabis use, gaining insights into the existing patterns of cannabis use is important. The purpose of our master’s thesis was to systematically review the literature on the use of cannabis and cannabis preparations for self-medication purposes. The research work was methodologically planned in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Articles were accessed through the PubMed search engine in the MEDLINE database. A total of 259 research articles were included in this review and assessed for specific self-reported user data about cannabis use for self-medication purposes. Data were collected on population profiles, reasons and motives for use, observed effects, initiation time, frequency and modes of use, sources of access to cannabis, sources of information about cannabis use, and disclosure of cannabis use to healthcare professionals. Additionally, we gathered information on the basic study characteristics. Most studies targeted patient populations with specific conditions or diseases. The main motivations for self-medication were symptom management or dissatisfaction with prescribed therapy (insufficiency or ineffectiveness in relieving symptoms, adverse effects of medicines). The reasons for using cannabis included both psychological and physical symptoms, with the most frequently reported effect being psychosomatic relief. Use for self-medication purposes did not always begin after a diagnosis or an identified medical problem. Due to inconsistent terminology, information on dosage forms and routes of administration was often unclear. Users accessed cannabis preparations and educational content through various sources. Most studies reported regular and daily use of cannabis preparations. Although users were reluctant to inform healthcare professionals about self-medication with cannabis preparations because of the stigma and fear of rejection, they wanted scientifically validated information and guidance from them. The review also revealed varying definitions of cannabis use in the literature, such as medical, recreational, therapeutic, and self-medication, as well as differing definitions of who should be considered a cannabis user for self-medication purposes.
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