128 Australians with a long-term history of medical cannabis use participated in the survey, performed by the University of South Wales' National Drug and Alcohol Research Center. "[R]egular medical cannabis use was frequently reported for multiple medical conditions including

chronic pain                (57%)
depression                  (56%)
arthritis                        (35%)
persistent nausea       (27%)
weight loss                 (26%)  authors found."

"Cannabis was perceived to provide 'great relief' overall (86%), and substantial relief of specific symptoms such as pain, nausea and insomnia. It was also typically perceived as superior to other medications in terms of undesirable effects, and the extent of relief provided."

Researchers further noted: "Almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents claimed they decreased or discontinued their use of other medicines when they started using cannabis medicinally.... For some people this was a substantial change, representing a shift away from chronic, high-dose medication use."

Participants in the survey ranged from 24 to 88 years old, with more than half reporting having used cannabis medically for at least six years. Ten percent of respondents reported that they used cannabis on the recommendation of their physician. Overall, respondents considered cannabis inhalation to be the most "helpful" route of administration for symptom relief, though many expressed concerns regarding the potential health effects of smoking.

"Consistent with users elsewhere, ... Australian medical cannabis users ...claim moderate to substantial benefits from [the drug's] use in the management of their medical condition ... [and] show strong interest in clinical cannabis research, including the investigation of alternative delivery methods," authors concluded.

Full text of the study, "Survey of Australians using cannabis for medical purposes,"
is available online at:  http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/