Information Sources and Training Needs on Medical Marijuana- Preliminary Results from a State-wide Provider Survey

Abstract

Medical marijuana (MMJ) is legal in the state of Florida for the treatment of specific qualifying medical conditions.1,2 As of July 2020, over 2,450 physicians are authorized to order MMJ, and 360,000 patients are registered in Florida’s MMJ program.3 With this rapid uptake come concerns regarding physicians’ knowledge about MMJ,4–7 and the lack of preparing physicians-in-training to manage MMJ.4,7,8 We conducted a state-wide survey of certified MMJ providers in Florida. The survey was developed by the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes research team. The aim of the survey was to inform physicians of the mission of the consortium, which is to support and disseminate research. The survey items were developed accordingly, and the survey was pilot tested with a small group of physicians. We identified all physicians licensed to certify patients for MMJ who care currently practicing in the State of Florida (n=1609), to investigate their information sources and training needs regarding MMJ. The survey was disseminated via mail and email, including a $40 incentive for survey completion. Preliminary responses from 51 (5%) providers (mean age 56, 74% male) are summarized here. The sample included providers from 22 Florida counties and represented a broad range of medical specialties. The majority (92%) practiced in both medical marijuana and traditional medical practice. To learn about MMJ, 98% used research articles, 90% used online sources, 86% learned from dispensary staff, 84% learned from discussions with other providers, 72% used books, 65% used conferences, 61% used magazines, and 35% had a personal experience with marijuana. The sources most cited as “very useful” were conferences (51%), research articles (50%), discussions with other providers (47%), and online sources (47%). Topics rated as a high priority for training included drug-MMJ interactions (80%), strategies to help patients reduce their use of opioids or other drugs (80%), information about the selection of doses and CBD: THC ratios (80%), evidence for managing specific medical conditions or symptoms (78%), information about the effect of different phytocannabinoids and terpenes (75%), advantages and disadvantages of specific modes of delivery (71%), general updates on research findings (71%), educational information about the endocannabinoid system (67%), the safety of medical marijuana use (55%), identification and management of cannabis use disorder (51%), and comparison of products available in different dispensaries (49%). The majority of providers either strongly agreed or agreed (77%) that they could provide better care if they knew which products their patients receive at dispensaries. Physicians use a blend of primary research, online sources, and exchanges with colleagues to learn about MMJ. Perceived needs for more pharmacological information and indication-specific detail for treatment regimen were high. Most physicians believe that details on dispensed MMJ would improve patient care.