A groundbreaking new study is underway to better understand why and how patients across America use medical marijuana.

The anonymous survey is a first and aims to help standardize health and safety for cannabis users and improve the health of medicinal, and recreational users.

Dr Marion McNabb, Public Health Doctor, CEO, and co-founder of C3RN, said: ''We're focusing on designing innovative research and education models that embrace community-level engagement and empowerment to collectively drive change.

WHY I TAKE CANNABIS I am a 36 year old female INSA patient with multiple health issues. I get severe migraines. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and ptsd during my teenage years. In my twenties I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and interstitial cystitis. After years of medicating and seeing little results I was willing to try anything new. I received my mmj license hoping it would help with panic attacks I was having on a daily basis and severe pain from fibromyalgia. The first thing I noticed was it helped my depression and I was so much happier. My panic attacks had almost disappeared. My pain had lessened to the point where I have almost completely cut out all pain medication. My migraines are controlled if I medicate at the onset. The biggest surprise I had was with the interstitial cystitis also known as painful bladder disease. It affected every aspect of my life from waking up six times a night to use the bathroom to not going anywhere during the day because I had to use the restroom constantly. I can now sleep almost completely through the night usually only getting up once. I have experimented with different forms of mmj to find out what works best for me. It was trial and error. I find that I do not like to smoke which I thought everyone else did. What works best for me are the 1:1 cbd thc options. Insas 1:1 ginger tea hard candy and fruit chews are the best. I also like the cbd and thc patches for pain which last 12 hours. INSA is the only dispensary I know that sells ground flower at such a low price. I buy the ground flower and make my own vaginal suppositories for my bladder issues. I use the vape at the onset of my migraine and that usually stops it. They have so many options it's impossible to not find something that works for you. Medical marijuana has improved the quality of my life 100%. I am happier than I have ever been and I challenge anyone who has a debilitating health issue to give it a try because it could change your life. Thank you for reading my story. Advertisement

'This longitudinal anonymous survey is meant to give everyone a voice and an opportunity to be part of this movement.'

'The baseline information established here will be used to develop accessible, innovative, and evidence-based community education resources.

'We intend to highlight collective best practices that promote multi-sectoral collaboration between the cannabis industry, healthcare, academic, consumers and patient populations.'

Three centers in Massachusetts have chosen to prioritize research and evidence-based education during this pilot in order to provide the highest quality of care to their patients: INSA in Springfield and Easthampton, MA; BASK in Fairhaven, MA; and Revolutionary Clinics in Somerville and Cambridge, MA.

INSA CEO Mark Zatyrka said: 'The data that C3RN presented tonight is so valuable because it immediately adds legitimacy and credibility to the fact that this plant is not only helping people but improving their quality of life in a major way.

'The scientific data also helps to discredit the stigma that still surrounds cannabis. Medical cannabis affects our communities in a major way. And I mean in a positive way.

'We hear the stories of our patients. These are real people dealing with really tough ailments in difficult situations. Data is made up of numbers, but those numbers are made up of real people. Those patients who benefit from this plant, their lives are changed forever'.

Those that take the survey will immediately see their results compared to Massachusetts and national findings, receive dispensary discounts.

'It's great to see Massachusetts medical dispensaries taking such a strong pro-research stance,' says Dr. Christina Miyabe Shields, director of education for C3RN. 'They are really tackling the problem of stigma head-on.'

'Before I studied the endocannabinoid system, I was so traumatized by the stigma - I felt ashamed, even when I knew Cannabis was the safest, most therapeutically potent drug for me,' she says. 'But after completing my PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, I now understand the role that propaganda and other political fear-mongering techniques have played in creating this stigma in Western medicine.'

'Participating in our survey is the first step that anybody can take in changing the stigma of Cannabis use,' Dr Shields states.

'Ultimately, the data produced will help provide specialized care for the entire community of patients. This in turn should empower the cannabis industry to reach towards a higher level of education and implementation of best practices.

The results of the survey will be presented on September 23, 2018 at the final event of the 2018 C3RN Cannabis Science, Education, and Networking Series, which will be held in Boston.

To take part in the study visit, click here