Medicinal use of non-prescribed cannabis: a cross-sectional survey on patterns of use, motives for use, and treatment access in the Netherlands

The widespread use of non-prescribed cannabis for medicinal purposes in the Netherlands reflects both unmet health needs and barriers within the regulated medical cannabis system. Risky use practices - such as smoking cannabis with tobacco and using products without knowing their cannabinoid content - raise public health concerns. The findings highlight the need for harm reduction strategies and policies that better align medical cannabis regulation with patients' real-world behaviours and care needs.