2.1. Study design, sample and inclusion criteria

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Specialized Clinic in Therapies with Cannabinoids - CANNAVITAL (Clínica Especializada en Terapias con Cannabinoides) in Lima, Peru. The data collection was carried out between the months of January and April 2022. Employing simple random sampling from the total number of patients treated, a sample of 86 participants was obtained. The inclusion criteria were patients of all genders, aged 18 years or older, with medical prescription and active treatment with medical cannabis. The study encompassed patients using any route of cannabis administration and with a treatment duration of ≥1 year. Patients of other nationalities, with palliative cannabis use and active treatment for HIV or tuberculosis were excluded. Excluding patients of other nationalities considered potential variations in healthcare access, impacting perceptions of complementary therapies like cannabis. Furthermore, the treatment of patients with HIV or tuberculosis can significantly impact their perspectives on substance use.

Patient recruitment was executed through a multi-faceted approach. Initially, individuals from the CANNAVITAL clinic's client portfolio were contacted via email and phone calls. Additionally, patients were approached during their routine follow-up appointments, synchronized with their scheduled medical visits. This comprehensive strategy ensured a diverse and representative participant pool for our study.