Dispensing Medical Advice: San Francisco Bay Area Budtender Recommendations for Pain and Sleep Relief.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Evidence regarding the efficacy of various forms of cannabis and cannabinoid concentrations is limited, and cannabis industry regulatory infrastructure is still in development. Meanwhile, most US states have legalized medical or adult use cannabis. This study aimed to understand what advice cannabis budtenders in the San Francisco Bay Area were providing to customers for pain and sleep trouble - two of the conditions most cited as reasons for using cannabis medicinally.

Method

We visited 35 of 42 cannabis dispensaries in Alameda and San Francisco Counties in California, and using a "secret shopper" approach, asked the budtenders for recommendations on products, dosage, and strains to best alleviate pain and sleep trouble.

Results

For pain relief, budtenders

SUBMITTER: Hoang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12640093 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature