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According to a recent study, many American adults tend to obtain information about cannabis not from government or medical resources but rather from friends and family. The study, which included a nationally representative sample of 1,161 participants, highlighted that government websites were the least preferred source for marijuana-related information, accounting for just 4.7% of respondents. Health providers were slightly more popular, with 9.3% citing them as a source. Interestingly, budtenders who provide guidance in cannabis dispensaries were at 8.6%.
In contrast, the leading sources of cannabis information were family and friends, with 35.65%, closely followed by websites at 33.7%. Notably, individuals using medical marijuana were more likely to cite healthcare professionals as a source of information compared to nonmedical users — 16.4% versus 5.2%, respectively.
The study points to a growing trend of liberalizing marijuana policies across the United States. It suggests that the potential shift in cannabis classification from schedule 1 to 3 of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) could have widespread implications for public health. The authors of the paper emphasize the need for better education for healthcare providers on marijuana-related topics and careful management of government communications regarding cannabis.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, commented on the findings, noting that cannabis consumption is a longstanding practice that is not going to diminish. He emphasized that government agencies and healthcare providers should deliver accurate information about marijuana. Historically, government sources have either exaggerated or misrepresented the facts about cannabis and its consequences, which has contributed to the public’s skepticism regarding their credibility as reliable information sources.
Armentano also stressed that healthcare providers must remain updated on marijuana-related trends and research and should engage with their patients about cannabis just as they would with any other health-related behavior that could influence their patients’ well-being.
The authors of the study highlighted that the lack of adequate training for physicians may worsen the spread of misinformation regarding marijuana. Previous surveys and studies indicate that many healthcare professionals seek more relevant training, particularly during their medical education. Alarmingly, only 9% of medical schools in 2016 had specific courses on medical marijuana.
Among the surveyed individuals, 27% reported using cannabis within the past year. These individuals were more inclined to gather information from a variety of sources, except for government sites and mainstream media articles.
The study was published in the “Cannabis Research Journal” and received funding support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
It isn’t surprising that Americans prefer to obtain their cannabis information from industry actors such as Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: CGC) (TSX: WEED) since many state and federal authorities seem biased against marijuana. As long as those biases persist, the population could keep distrusting anything that the authorities say about marijuana.
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