Medical Marijuana Education among Healthcare Students: Assessing Knowledge, Barriers, and Curriculum Gaps in a Multicenter Institution

Mark Kelley, MSHI
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Co-authors: Sabrina Fayaz, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Background: As medical marijuana (MMJ) legalization expands, healthcare providers face new obstacles with patient treatment, with a profound lack of established formal training in cannabis therapeutics.

Objectives: Evaluate the current baseline knowledge, attitudes, opinions, and perceived barriers to MMJ in real-life practice, and determine interest levels in dedicated MMJ education among healthcare students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 355 students across LECOM campuses (Erie, PA; Elmira, NY; Seton Hill, PA; Bradenton, FL). The 13-item instrument evaluated student status (pre-clinical vs clinical), self-rated knowledge (evidence-based recommendations, risks/adverse effects, cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system [ECS], state certification process), attitudes and confidence (discussing MMJ with patients/staff, addressing drug-drug interactions and treatment), personal opinions (educational opportunities and institutional support, legalization status), current sources of information, and an optional free-text response identifying the biggest barrier to understanding and clinical use. The cohort included 194 female, 245 White, 215 pre-clinical, 161 aged 24-26 years, and 213 free-text responses, categorized by major themes.

Results: Overall, 87.3% of students reported no formal training on MMJ, but 85.6% agreed additional education would benefit their role as a healthcare provider. 78.0% showed interest in additional education opportunities surrounding MMJ, but only 51.0% knew of LECOM’s additional 2-year accredited master’s program in cannabinoid therapeutics. 79.7% agreed MMJ has therapeutic applications and 60-65.4% reported understanding specific treatment recommendations and major cannabinoids, but only 44.2% felt they understand the ECS and 24.2% their states patient certification process. Furthermore, only 42.0% felt confident discussing MMJ with patients/staff, and 36.6% addressing drug-drug interactions and MMJ into patient treatment. Regarding policy, 59.4% supported full-legalization (medical and recreational), whereas 32.4% medical-only. Primary sources of current information included colleagues (69.6%), medical literature (62.0%), news/media (61.1%), and clinical experience (54.9%). Key barrier themes included time and lack of education in current curricula (n=91), stigma or bias (n=72), state/federal regulations (n=33), and lack of clinical evidence (n=26).

Conclusions: Despite an apparent basic understanding of MMJ and its therapeutic value, healthcare students lack formal training and fall short when it comes to confidence incorporating MMJ into discussions with real-world patients. Notably, time and lack of education being a repeated barrier theme – combined with the seemingly low knowledge of additional master’s programs – highlights the need for exposure to MMJ early in healthcare training, potentially supported by CME, either as part of current programs or easily incorporated certifications to combat stigma and bridge the gap between student interest and clinical preparedness.