A survey published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health found that less than a fifth (18%) of patients believe their primary caregivers are knowledgeable enough about cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products to give good advice about cannabis. The authors concluded, “Primary care providers need to be knowledgeable about cannabinoids to best support patient care. In addition, with a significant number of patients reporting cannabinoids helpful for medical conditions common in primary care, it is important that research continue to identify the potential benefits and harms of cannabis.”
The survey was conducted in the state of Vermont, which has had a legal medicinal marijuana program since 2004. Adult-use has been legal since 2018. The anonymous survey was given to 1,009 patients, all of whom were over the age of 18.
In addition to finding that only 18% of primary care physicians were considered to be good sources of information regarding cannabis, 45% of patients reported using cannabinoids of some kind in the past twelve months. This should be worrisome to all physicians. If these patients do not believe they can obtain reliable information about cannabis from their primary care physician, then they are going to look elsewhere.