An Interdisciplinary Cannabis Training Program Improved Healthcare Trainees' Confidence
A virtual cannabis education program for healthcare trainees across four disciplines achieved strong satisfaction ratings, with 96% reporting improved ability to counsel patients about cannabis.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
345 trainees in pharmacy, nursing, public health, and medicine completed the program. 96% reported improved ability to respond to patients interested in cannabis.
Key Numbers
345 trainees certified since 2023. 90% agreed it addressed a training need. 83% said it should be required. 96% reported improved patient response ability.
How They Did This
Implementation study using post-training surveys. The virtual training was developed using intervention mapping with four key strategies.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use is surging but healthcare professional training on cannabis remains minimal.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis legalization expands, the gap between patient cannabis use and clinician knowledge grows.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
No control group or pre-post knowledge assessment. Self-reported satisfaction only.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do trainees who complete this program actually provide better cannabis-related care?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 96% of trainees reported improved ability to respond to cannabis-related patient questions
- Evidence Grade:
- Implementation study using satisfaction surveys without controls.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication covering training since 2023
- Original Title:
- "It's legal, now what?" development, implementation, and evaluation of interdisciplinary cannabis education for healthcare trainees.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 68 (2025)
- Authors:
- Cronin, Sean P, Cruz, Josue, Cameron, Elena, Azemar, Sabrina, Dudley, Steven, Largent-Milnes, Tally M, Brady, Benjamin R, Wallace, Jessica S, Arnett, Margie R, Dahmer, Stephen M, Ibrahim, Mohab M, Padilla, Alyssa R, Vanderah, Todd W, De La Rosa, Jennifer S
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06272
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do healthcare professionals need cannabis-specific training?
Most medical, nursing, and pharmacy programs include little or no cannabis education. Patients increasingly ask clinicians about cannabis.
What topics did the training cover?
Cannabis epidemiology, treatment applications, safety recommendations, potential risks and benefits, community resources, and patient-provider communication.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06272APA
Cronin, Sean P; Cruz, Josue; Cameron, Elena; Azemar, Sabrina; Dudley, Steven; Largent-Milnes, Tally M; Brady, Benjamin R; Wallace, Jessica S; Arnett, Margie R; Dahmer, Stephen M; Ibrahim, Mohab M; Padilla, Alyssa R; Vanderah, Todd W; De La Rosa, Jennifer S. (2025). "It's legal, now what?" development, implementation, and evaluation of interdisciplinary cannabis education for healthcare trainees.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 68. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00321-8
MLA
Cronin, Sean P, et al. ""It's legal, now what?" development, implementation, and evaluation of interdisciplinary cannabis education for healthcare trainees.." Journal of cannabis research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00321-8
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. ""It's legal, now what?" development, implementation, and eva..." RTHC-06272. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/cronin-2025-its-legal-now-what
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.