What do Colombian psychiatrists think about prescribing medical cannabis?

What the researchers found

82% of psychiatrists agreed medical cannabis should be available, and 73.1% wanted prescribing authority. However, 66.2% did not know how to help patients access it, and only 25% understood the legal status. The highest psychiatric approval was for insomnia (35.2%) and anxiety (29%), while 66.9% disapproved of use for schizophrenia. Non-psychiatric conditions like cancer pain (87.6%) and chemotherapy nausea (78.6%) received much higher approval.

Why it matters

Even in a country that has legalized medical cannabis, psychiatrists remain cautious about psychiatric applications while embracing non-psychiatric uses. The gap between willingness to prescribe and knowledge of how to do so highlights a systemic education failure.

The numbers in context

145 psychiatrists; 14 territories; 82% support availability; 73.1% want to prescribe; 66.2% do not know how patients can access it; 25% understand legal status; insomnia approval 35.2%; anxiety approval 29%; schizophrenia disapproval 66.9%; cancer pain approval 87.6%

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey of 145 psychiatrists across 14 Colombian territories between November 2019 and July 2020. 28-item questionnaire covering attitudes, clinical experience, perceived knowledge, indications, and safety concerns.

What this study cannot tell us

Non-random sampling may not represent all Colombian psychiatrists. Self-report measures of knowledge and attitudes. Cross-sectional design provides a single snapshot.

How to read the evidence

Cross-sectional survey with reasonable sample size across 14 territories, but non-random sampling limits generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2021; attitudes may have evolved as Colombia's medical cannabis framework matures.

The bigger picture

The pattern of psychiatrists supporting cannabis for pain and nausea but not for mental illness mirrors the evidence base. The strong disapproval for schizophrenia aligns with research showing cannabis can worsen psychotic symptoms, while the modest support for insomnia and anxiety reflects emerging but limited evidence.

Questions still open

• Would psychiatrist attitudes shift with more training on the endocannabinoid system? How do psychiatrist attitudes compare to actual patient demand for cannabis prescriptions? Do these attitudes differ across Latin American countries with varying legalization frameworks?

Common questions

Read the original research

Medicinal cannabis: knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of Colombian psychiatrists.

Journal of cannabis research, 3(1), 26

Citation

Orjuela-Rojas, Juan Manuel; García Orjuela, Xiomara; Ocampo Serna, Sabina. (2021). Medicinal cannabis: knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of Colombian psychiatrists.. Journal of cannabis research, 3(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00083-z

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