Social media, especially Instagram, is increasingly a source of public discourse on health issues, including medical cannabis. This study explores how people use Instagram to share their experiences with cannabinoid-based treatments. Analysis of hashtags, posts, and user interactions in the research underlines trends in the perception of the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis. Many users praise its potential to help with different health conditions, but the side effects and abuse of it are also mentioned. These discussions reflect the platform’s role as both an information hub and a space for personal storytelling.
The study underlines the dual-edged sword of social media. It spreads awareness and builds community, yet it can also be used to spread misinformation. As people increasingly go online for information about medical cannabis, what they really need is credible, scientifically backed content. This study is informative for healthcare professionals, policy analysts, and educators; it suggests that even a platform like Instagram may serve as a means for encouraging accurate information and the dismissal of myths about medical cannabis.
Full text: Olena Litvinova, Bikash Baral, Thomas Wochele-Thoma, Maima Matin, Nikolay T. Tzvetkov, Olga Adamska, Agnieszka Kamińska, Marcin Łapiński, Artur Stolarczyk, Atanas G. Atanasov, Efficiency and safety of cannabinoid medical use: an analysis of discussions and observed trends on Instagram, Frontiers in Public Health, Volume 12 – 2024, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1494018