Georgian Doctors Lack Training to Screen or Counsel Patients on Cannabis
Only 36% of primary care physicians in Georgia were familiar with cannabis legislation, fewer than half acknowledged legitimate medical uses, and 88% had never applied diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorders.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 246 Georgian family physicians surveyed, only 35.6% were familiar with cannabis laws, 26.6% documented cannabis use in patient records, and 88.1% had never used structured criteria to diagnose cannabis use disorders. Time constraints, stigma, and lack of training were the most cited barriers to effective counseling.
Key Numbers
246 physicians surveyed; 96.6% female; 55.7% aged >51; 35.6% familiar with cannabis legislation; 97% associated cannabis with mental health risks; 92.4% with accident risk; <50% acknowledged medical applications; 26.6% documented cannabis use; 88.1% never applied CUD diagnostic criteria; 10 qualitative interviews.
How They Did This
Mixed-method study combining a cross-sectional survey of 246 family physicians using a structured anonymous questionnaire with qualitative interviews of 10 physicians exploring barriers to cannabis-related counseling and documentation.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis legalization spreads globally, this study highlights a critical gap: physicians may not be prepared to screen, diagnose, or counsel patients on cannabis use, even years after policy changes. This gap likely exists in many other newly legalized jurisdictions.
The Bigger Picture
This study reflects a broader pattern seen in many jurisdictions: cannabis policy moves faster than medical education. When physicians lack knowledge about cannabis laws, pharmacology, and clinical screening, patients may receive inadequate care or misinformation.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Nearly all respondents (96.6%) were female, which may not represent the full physician population. The sample of 246 is modest for national generalization. Self-reported survey data may be subject to social desirability bias. Georgian medical practice context may limit generalizability.
Questions This Raises
- ?How do physician knowledge levels in Georgia compare to other newly legalized jurisdictions?
- ?Would targeted medical education programs improve screening rates?
- ?Are patients discussing cannabis use with other healthcare providers instead?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 88% of Georgian doctors had never applied diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorders
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: Modest sample size (246) from a single country with an unrepresentative gender distribution and self-reported data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025, reflecting post-legalization medical practice in Georgia.
- Original Title:
- Primary Care Physicians' Knowledge and Counseling on Cannabis Use in the Country of Georgia: Results of a Mixed-Method Exploratory Study.
- Published In:
- Journal of primary care & community health, 16, 21501319251394522 (2025)
- Authors:
- Nadiradze, Aleksandra, Khetsuriani, Ketevani, Talakvadze, Tamari, Gulbani, Mariam, Ratiani, Elene, Nebieridze, Anano, Gaprindashvili, Nino, Tabagari, Nino, Lunze, Karsten, Nadareishvili, Ilia
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07223
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why were nearly all surveyed physicians female?
The 96.6% female representation likely reflects the demographics of primary care medicine in Georgia, where family medicine is a female-dominated specialty. This may limit generalizability to the broader physician population.
What barriers prevent doctors from screening for cannabis use?
The qualitative interviews identified time constraints during clinical visits, social stigma around discussing cannabis, and lack of formal training on cannabis screening and diagnosis as the most common barriers.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07223APA
Nadiradze, Aleksandra; Khetsuriani, Ketevani; Talakvadze, Tamari; Gulbani, Mariam; Ratiani, Elene; Nebieridze, Anano; Gaprindashvili, Nino; Tabagari, Nino; Lunze, Karsten; Nadareishvili, Ilia. (2025). Primary Care Physicians' Knowledge and Counseling on Cannabis Use in the Country of Georgia: Results of a Mixed-Method Exploratory Study.. Journal of primary care & community health, 16, 21501319251394522. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251394522
MLA
Nadiradze, Aleksandra, et al. "Primary Care Physicians' Knowledge and Counseling on Cannabis Use in the Country of Georgia: Results of a Mixed-Method Exploratory Study.." Journal of primary care & community health, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251394522
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Primary Care Physicians' Knowledge and Counseling on Cannabi..." RTHC-07223. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/nadiradze-2025-primary-care-physicians-knowledge
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.