Doctors and patients agree: Doctors are not good sources of medical marijuana information

The majority of cannabis patients do not consider their GPs to be a good source of information about cannabis, according to a recent survey. The results coincide with growing concerns about the lack of education among doctors about the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids.

A 2020 study published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health interviewed more than 1,000 primary care patients in Vermont who were 18 years or older. Although the state legalized medical cannabis in 2004, only 18% of respondents rated their doctor as a reliable source of cannabis information.

According to the survey, 45% of primary care patients in Vermont said they had used cannabinoids in the past year.

Photo by Sarah Pflug via Burst “Given the large proportion of patients using cannabinoids, general practitioners are likely to need more education about the potential risks and benefits,” the researchers wrote. “We suggest that providers enter into an open dialogue with all patients about cannabinoid use in order to create a safe space for patients to ask questions and monitor use.”

According to a 2019 survey, 45% of primary care physicians said they were unwilling to answer patient questions about medical marijuana. However, 77% expressed an interest in learning more.

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Family doctors aren’t the only ones experiencing a lack of medical knowledge about medical marijuana. A study published in Current Oncology in May found that most Canadian oncologists “do not lack sufficient knowledge about cannabis and its uses as a drug in the treatment of cancer”.

Photo by Esther Kelleter / EyeEm / Getty Image

A previous study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association found that more than 90% of pharmacy students believed that medical cannabis should be legalized, and more than 70% said they were pharmacists for the dispensing process of medical cannabis should be responsible. However, researchers reported that only 15% of students got passed results when testing their cannabis knowledge.

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According to the study: “Although students believe that pharmacists are involved in the dispensing process of [medical cannabis], this study further underscores that pharmacy students are unwilling to recommend, advise, and interpret drug interactions related to [medical cannabis]. “