Medical Cannabis Research and Strainprint

Strainprint is a journaling app for medical cannabis users, created by patients and for patients. And, Stainprint is impacting the cannabis industry. It started with Stephanie Karasick, who had been attempting to deal with her depression and anxiety with traditional pharmaceuticals for years, without success. So, she decided to begin a routine of medical cannabis and noticed an uptick in her mood within a week.

MÜV has over two year’s worth of data relating to patient cannabis use and how well particular products address a range of conditions and disorders. Through the anonymous data provided by thousands of people using Strainprint, patients and researchers have access to information regarding what medical cannabis patients have experienced, including strains and products deemed effective for specific symptoms or ailments. 

From a research standpoint, the data resulting from this patient-led study is incredibly useful. And, from a patient perspective, the Strainprint app allows people to assess what works best for them. The app works to fill the gaps caused by lack of research and restrictive policies. Until clinical trials become standard, Strainprint hopes to help as many people as possible to manage their symptoms effectively.

What Does Recent Cannabis Data Say?

MÜV Patient Pioneers are helping to gather real data about medical cannabis for symptom management through the Strain Assessment Program.

Cannabis For Mental Health Data

Anxiety and depression are huge mental health issues that impact people throughout America. However, cannabis has shown to alleviate symptoms of several mood disorders. And, according to patient data, several products are especially effective:

Anxiety (47% average efficacy across all cannabis data)

Cherry Punch Flower: 60% efficacious

Maui Wowie Cartridge: 59% efficacious

Depression (51% average efficacy across all cannabis data)

Maui Wowie Cartridge: 69% efficacious

Durban Dream Flower: 62% efficacious

Stress (55% average efficacy across all cannabis data)

Maui Wowie Cartridge: 67% efficacious

Slurricane Flower: 68% efficacious

*Patient-reported data as of November 2022

Cannabis For Pain Management Data

Chronic pain ravages veterans, former athletes, and others in the United States. But, the notion of regularly using cannabis for pain management is extremely promising.

Upper Back Pain (50% average efficacy across all cannabis data)

Canna-Tsu Cartridge: 69% efficacious

Strawberry Cough Flower: 56% efficacious

Headache (54% average efficacy across all cannabis data)

Guru Flower: 71% efficacious

Ice Cream Cake Flower: 61% efficacious

*Patient-reported data as of November 2022

Cannabis For Insomnia Data

10% of Americans are experiencing chronic insomnia. But, cannabis is known to address the issue.

Insomnia (53% average efficacy across all cannabis data)

Püre Blueberry Cartridge: 75% efficacious

THC EnCaps: 75% efficacious

*Patient-reported data as of November 2022

Strainprint and Additional Industry Studies

Strainprint data has been used for peer-reviewed, cannabis research studies.

Short- and Long-term Effects of Cannabis on Headache and Migraine was published in the Journal of Pain. Washington State University examined 19,000 Strainprint sessions, finding that cannabis reduced headaches and migraines by 50%.

• Short- and Long-term Effects of Cannabis on Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Researchers at Washington State University and the University of Pennsylvania Perleman School of Medicine analyzed over 11,500 sessions and found an average of 67% reduction in irritability, 62% reduction in intrusive thoughts, 57% reduction in anxiety, and 51% reduction in flashbacks.

• Acute Effects of Cannabis on Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Researchers examined the effects of cannabis on symptoms of OCD; inhaling cannabis reduced intrusive thoughts by 49% and compulsions by 60%.

How Does Strainprint Work?

The cannabis tool benefits the user's health. The patient data collected by Strainprint can help provide vital information to conduct research about medical cannabis. By understanding the process needed to use the Strainprint app to record your MÜV cannabis experience, you can better understand how it can help normalize and destigmatize the use of medical cannabis.

Security Measures

First, it’s important to know that any information shared within the Strainprint app remains anonymous for the security of users. Security and protection of personal identifiable information is very important to the Strainprint founders, so the app stores data with military-grade encryption. Because Strainprint and its servers are Canadian-based, users can be even more assured of privacy and security, thanks to the stricter privacy laws put into place there.

Your MÜV Code

There’s a reason for using Strainprint with a MÜV code. When you link your medical cannabis purchases to your patient experience, you become a Patient Pioneer, heading the movement of medical cannabis research in Strainprint. When you use MÜV’s unique code, it will be easier to search the complete list of MÜV products that fit with the app’s tracking features and choose the specific ones you use. In addition, by adding these products to the “My Products” section on the Strainprint homepage, you can easily track use and come back to these products when you use them again later.

The Process

When you register in the app with your MÜV code, you’ll be prompted to explain what you’re hoping to treat with medical marijuana, including the specific ailment you’re experiencing or any individual symptoms. This explanation could cover any number of things, from chronic pain to anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Choose as many conditions from the list as necessary to achieve the most detailed tracking possible.

Track Session

From the homepage, you can click “Track Session” when you want to begin the process of tracking your use of medical cannabis products. This portion of the app is where you’ll discover the benefits of tracking your medical cannabis use and its effects. Once you begin a session, you will:

1. Select the symptoms you’re hoping to address
2. Assign a number, 1-10, that indicates the severity of these symptoms
3. Select the MÜV strain or product you’re using from the “My Products” list
4. Record the dosage, in the number of drops, puffs, ounces, or grams
5. After at least twenty minutes have passed, unless the consumption method is slow acting, the Strainprint app will indicate to you that you should record the effects and how you’re feeling now that effects have started.

The app uses the data collected both before and after product use to calculate the efficacy of its treatment of the specific symptom you mentioned. 

Snapshot

Once done tracking a session, patients can utilize the “Snapshot” function in the app to receive a rundown of all sessions, sorted by symptoms. This feature creates a ranking of the various products used for that particular symptom, and shows what product was most and least effective. This can help make symptom management much simpler.

Explore

Patients can also use the “Explore” function to research strains by trending use, effects, and the symptoms they most commonly treat. The products on the app are each categorized in this way, as well as by their effectiveness. The average effectiveness of medical cannabis products for specific ailments is recorded and measured across the entire app, but only once there are ten unique individuals that offer one hundred datapoints. This ensures that the data isn’t skewed by relying on only one individual’s experience.

Become a Cannabis Research Pioneer

This knowledge would not be possible without our Patient Pioneers. Thank you for being pioneers in cannabis research! You’ll need to sign in to the Strainprint app with a MÜV code, and beyond the benefits of informed symptom management, you can also get a MÜV discount for taking part in the app’s research. 

You'll receive a 10% discount on your next purchase at MÜV by becoming a Patient Pioneer and tracking your medical cannabis sessions. Track five sessions for one product and receive another 10% off. This is a stackable discount reward you can complete twice a month and can be combined with our rewards savings program and daily promotions. Once you complete your five sessions, simply click “Redeem” on your Strainpoints profile to receive your discount via email.