Religious Israeli Nursing Students Hold More Negative Views on Medical Cannabis
Ultra-Orthodox and religious Jewish nursing students in Israel have more negative attitudes toward medical cannabis than their secular peers, with higher religiosity correlating with more opposition.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Religious/ultra-Orthodox nursing students showed more negative attitudes toward medical cannabis compared to other nursing students. Most opposed recreational legalization and believed cannabis is addictive. Those with prior exposure to medical cannabis had more positive attitudes. Knowledge levels were low, and students supported adding medical cannabis to their curriculum.
Key Numbers
221 religious/ultra-Orthodox nursing students surveyed. Negative correlation found between religiosity level and attitudes toward medical cannabis. Very low medical cannabis usage rate reported. Students supported curriculum inclusion of medical cannabis education.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 221 religious/ultra-Orthodox nursing students (BN and MN programs) using online questionnaires measuring demographics, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge about medical cannabis. Analyzed with Pearson correlation, t-tests, and multiple regression.
Why This Research Matters
As medical cannabis use surges in Israel, nurses from religious communities will increasingly encounter patients using it. Understanding and addressing their attitudes is essential for ensuring all patients receive non-judgmental, informed care.
The Bigger Picture
The tension between religious values and evolving medical practices around cannabis isn't unique to Israel — it's a global challenge as legalization spreads into culturally conservative communities where healthcare providers' personal beliefs may affect patient care.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single population (religious/ultra-Orthodox only) limits generalizability. Self-selection bias in online survey. Cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions. Social desirability may influence responses.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would medical cannabis education change attitudes among religious nursing students?
- ?How do religious patients' own views on cannabis affect their willingness to use prescribed medical cannabis?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Small cross-sectional survey of a specific subpopulation provides useful insights but limited generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026, reflecting Israel's rapidly expanding medical cannabis program.
- Original Title:
- Attitudes and Knowledge of Israeli Ultra-Orthodox and Religious Jewish Nursing Students Toward the Use of Medical Cannabis.
- Published In:
- Journal of religion and health, 65(1), 538-553 (2026)
- Authors:
- Kozlov, Gregory, Wacht, Oren, Grinstein-Cohen, Orli
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08399
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do religious beliefs affect healthcare providers' views on medical cannabis?
Yes — this study found that higher religiosity among Israeli nursing students correlated with more negative attitudes toward medical cannabis, though personal exposure to medical cannabis was associated with more positive views.
Should nursing programs teach about medical cannabis?
The students themselves thought so — despite holding more negative attitudes, they supported including medical cannabis education in their nursing curriculum, recognizing the knowledge gap in their training.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08399APA
Kozlov, Gregory; Wacht, Oren; Grinstein-Cohen, Orli. (2026). Attitudes and Knowledge of Israeli Ultra-Orthodox and Religious Jewish Nursing Students Toward the Use of Medical Cannabis.. Journal of religion and health, 65(1), 538-553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-025-02381-9
MLA
Kozlov, Gregory, et al. "Attitudes and Knowledge of Israeli Ultra-Orthodox and Religious Jewish Nursing Students Toward the Use of Medical Cannabis.." Journal of religion and health, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-025-02381-9
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Attitudes and Knowledge of Israeli Ultra-Orthodox and Religi..." RTHC-08399. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kozlov-2026-attitudes-and-knowledge-of
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.