Canadian Doctors Feel Unprepared to Authorize Medical Cannabis | Research

The takeaway

Family physicians and nurse practitioners in Newfoundland reported significant knowledge gaps and low confidence in authorizing medical cannabis, often referring patients to specialized cannabis clinics instead.

Healthcare providers, medical educators, and patients navigating medical cannabis access

Environmental context and resources was the most cited barrier domain

What the researchers found

Five themes emerged: knowledge gaps, internal influences (attitudes and beliefs), patient influences (requests and expectations), external influences from other healthcare providers, and systemic barriers. The biggest factor was environmental context and resources, with providers citing a lack of guidelines and educational materials as the primary obstacle.

Why it matters

Despite cannabis being legal in Canada since 2018, many patients still cannot find a healthcare provider willing to authorize medical cannabis. This study identifies why: providers lack training and guidelines, not necessarily because they oppose it.

The numbers in context

12 participants interviewed. Five main themes identified. Environmental context and resources was the most represented domain in coding.

How the study worked

Qualitative study using semi-structured Zoom interviews with 12 primary care providers (family physicians and nurse practitioners) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Interview guide developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework, with thematic analysis.

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample (12 providers) from one Canadian province limits generalizability. Qualitative design captures perspectives but cannot quantify how widespread these barriers are. Self-selection bias may mean participants were more engaged with the topic than average.

How to read the evidence

Small qualitative study from a single province; useful for generating hypotheses but not for drawing broad conclusions.

When this study was published

2024 study

The bigger picture

The gap between legal access and practical access to medical cannabis is a recurring theme across legalized jurisdictions. This study suggests that guideline development and targeted education, not just policy changes, are needed to close that gap.

Questions still open

Would standardized medical cannabis education in medical school change provider comfort levels? How do patients experience this gap between legal access and provider willingness?

Common questions

Why won't many doctors authorize medical cannabis?

According to this study, it is not necessarily opposition but rather knowledge gaps, lack of practice guidelines, and low confidence due to insufficient training.

What do doctors do instead of authorizing medical cannabis?

Many refer patients to specialized cannabis clinics while focusing on harm-reduction strategies in their own practice.

Read the original research

Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis.

PloS one, 19(3), e0295858

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Schuhmacher, Sandi; Gaid, Dina; Bishop, Lisa D; Fleming, Laura; Donnan, Jennifer. (2024). Planting the seeds for success: A qualitative study exploring primary healthcare providers' perceptions about medical cannabis.. PloS one, 19(3), e0295858. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295858