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If you suffer from chronic pain and think medical cannabis could help, your doctor may not always share the same opinion. A recent survey of individuals living in states with legalized medical cannabis revealed significant differences in opinions between patients and healthcare providers.
According to the survey, which included responses from 1,000 doctors and 1,600 chronic pain patients, 71% of patients felt the federal government should legalize cannabis. However, only 59% of doctors agreed with this view. The survey also showed that 64% of patients believed that medical marijuana should be covered by health insurance, while 51% of doctors supported this idea.
The divide became even more evident when discussing the legalization of recreational cannabis. Fifty-five percent of patients felt it should be legalized across the United States, but only 38% of doctors shared this view. According to Elizabeth Stone, the study’s lead author, patients with chronic pain were generally more in favor of policies that increased access to medicinal marijuana, while healthcare practitioners tended to favor policies that limited its availability.
Currently, the availability of recreational and medical cannabis varies greatly depending on the state. Medical marijuana is legal in 38 states and Washington, DC. Additionally, 23 of these states have legalized the substance for recreational use.
According to Stone, one of the reasons cannabis stands out is the regulatory environment. “Marijuana use for medical or recreational purposes may be lawful, or neither may be permitted at all depending on where you live,” she said.
The survey primarily focused on adults suffering from noncancer chronic pain lasting six months or longer, as well as primary care doctors and specific specialists. Interestingly, most patients who had previously used medical cannabis and potentially experienced relief supported expanded access. On the other hand, doctors who had never recommended cannabis for pain relief were more hesitant to support broader legalization efforts.
Despite differing views, both patients and doctors largely agreed on one thing: 70% of both groups believed that medical schools should educate future physicians about medical cannabis and its potential use in pain management.
“All of this indicates a need for further guidance on the use and effectiveness of marijuana for medical purposes,” Stone stated. Questions about which patients should be recommended medical marijuana and what forms, dosages or methods of use are most appropriate remain topics for future research and policy development.
Pointers to the answers to some of those questions can be gleaned by examining the data that entities such as TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) have collected over time regarding the different ways in which medical marijuana users use medicinal cannabis.
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