A Failure to Guide: Patient Experiences within a State-Run Medical Marijuana Program in Pennsylvania, US
Can medical marijuana patients navigate their way to relief? Our research shows many are lost and uneducated when it comes to searching for ways to feel better.
- Medical marijuana isn’t integrated into the larger health care system. Patients have a siloed experience while establishing their ongoing care.
- Without guidance, many patients struggled to regularly find and receive effective treatment. Oftentimes, this leads to high out-of-pocket costs, lack of self-reliance, and the inability to relieve symptoms.
- Researchers recommend an increased focus on integrating medical marijuana into the care of patients with qualifying conditions.
Clinician Attitudes, Training, and Beliefs About Medical Marijuana: An Inter-professional Assessment
A full spectrum of clinicians currently care for patients who use medical marijuana, but our study shows that the larger medical community is uneducated about the plant as a therapeutic option.
- Only 51% of interviewed physicians had completed any formal training on medical marijuana. Most with training saw fewer risks and more benefits to the plant as a medical option. They also report feeling better prepared to discuss its use with patients.
- All clinicians reported limited options for learning more about how medical marijuana affects patients, and many said they wanted more research and training to help fill these knowledge gaps.
