A survey of 55 dispensary staff found that 94% provided specific cannabis strain and product recommendations to patients, but only 20% had medical or scientific training.
Read this if you get cannabis product recommendations from dispensary staff and want to understand the basis for that advice.
94% of dispensary staff give specific medical advice, but only 20% have medical training
What the researchers found
As cannabis dispensaries have proliferated, patients increasingly rely on dispensary staff for guidance on which products to use for specific conditions. This study surveyed 55 dispensary employees about their training, knowledge, and recommendation practices.
Almost all staff (94%) reported providing specific cannabis advice to patients. However, only 55% had any formal training for their position, and just 20% had medical or scientific training.
Staff recommendations followed some patterns: Indica strains were recommended for anxiety, pain, insomnia, nightmares, and Tourette syndrome. A 1:1 THC:CBD ratio was most commonly recommended for anxiety, Crohn's disease, hepatitis C, and PTSD. High CBD was recommended for arthritis, Alzheimer's, epilepsy, and muscle spasms.
While many recommendations aligned with available evidence, some were inconsistent with it or could potentially worsen certain conditions.
Why it matters
Dispensary staff are functioning as de facto healthcare providers for many cannabis patients, yet most lack medical training. The gap between the advice-giving role and the training level raises important questions about patient safety and the quality of cannabis-based care.
The numbers in context
55 dispensary staff surveyed. 94% give specific cannabis advice. 55% had some formal training. 20% had medical/scientific training. Indica most commonly recommended for anxiety, pain, insomnia. 1:1 THC:CBD most recommended for PTSD and Crohn's.
How the study worked
Online survey of 55 medical and non-medical dispensary staff recruited via email and social media. Assessed demographics, dispensary features, formal training, and specific cannabis recommendation practices for various patient conditions.
What this study cannot tell us
Very small sample (55 staff) recruited through convenience methods, limiting generalizability. Self-reported practices may not reflect actual behavior. The survey could not assess the accuracy of individual recommendations or patient outcomes.
How to read the evidence
Small convenience sample with self-reported data. Provides initial insights but limited generalizability.
When this study was published
Published in 2016. Dispensary training requirements and product knowledge have evolved as the industry has matured.
The bigger picture
This study highlights a structural gap in medical cannabis: the people patients interact with most (dispensary staff) have the least medical training, while the people with the most training (physicians) often have the least cannabis-specific knowledge. Standardized evidence-based training programs for dispensary staff could help bridge this gap.
Questions still open
- Should dispensary staff be required to complete standardized training? How do patient outcomes differ when recommendations come from trained versus untrained staff? Would pharmacist involvement improve the quality of dispensary recommendations?
Common questions
Are dispensary staff qualified to recommend cannabis for medical conditions?
What strains do dispensaries recommend for anxiety?
Read the original research
Training and Practices of Cannabis Dispensary Staff.
Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 1(1), 244-251
Citation
Haug, Nancy A; Kieschnick, Dustin; Sottile, James E; Babson, Kimberly A; Vandrey, Ryan; Bonn-Miller, Marcel O. (2016). Training and Practices of Cannabis Dispensary Staff.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 1(1), 244-251. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0024
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