A majority of U.S. healthcare professionals support medical cannabis access but lack formal training on how to incorporate it into clinical care, according to survey data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
The anonymous, web-based survey included 879 healthcare professionals, most of whom reported already encountering cannabis use among their patients. Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they had patients who use cannabis, while 87% said they believe cannabis has therapeutic promise. Ninety-five percent said they support legal medical cannabis use, and 74% said they would be open to recommending medical cannabis to patients.
The survey group included mental health professionals, registered nurses, physicians, and advanced practice providers. Respondents rated their own cannabis knowledge highest on risks and therapeutic indications, but researchers found much lower scores when participants were tested on objective knowledge of cannabis-related risks, therapeutic uses, and mechanisms of action.
The most common sources of cannabis knowledge were personal experience and popular media, cited by 76% and 73% of respondents, respectively. Researchers also found that fewer respondents had received structured clinical training on cannabis, even though many expressed being open to using it in practice.
The most commonly-cited concerns around clinical cannabis use included a lack of trained providers, possible patient exploitation, recreational misuse, and psychosis risk. Greater openness to clinical cannabis use was associated with higher self-rated knowledge, younger age, professional role, and fewer concerns.
The study authors said the findings point to the need for structured training on cannabis pharmacology, dosing, contraindications, and legal and ethical considerations, as well as better systems for monitoring cannabis use in patient care.
NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said the findings reflect the growing acceptance of medical cannabis among healthcare providers.
“The use and efficacy of medical cannabis is now widely accepted among healthcare professionals,” Armentano said in a statement. “As more physicians, nurses, and others integrate medical cannabis into their clinical practices, it is vital that medical associations, institutions, and educational curricula similarly incorporate and embrace cannabis as a mainstream and established therapeutic option for patients.”
The findings are consistent with a 2021 study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, which found that nearly 69% of more than 2,200 U.S. clinicians believed cannabis has medical utility. In that survey, 27% of respondents said they had recommended cannabis to a patient, while 60% incorrectly identified the cannabis legalization policy in their own state.
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