Legalization of Medical Marijuana
An increasing number of countries legalize the use of medical cannabis or allow it for a narrow range of medical conditions. Physicians, Medical Marijuana Doctors and often the patients’ general practitioner, play a major role in implementing this policy. Many of them, however, perceive a lack of evidence-based knowledge and are not confident with providing patients with medical cannabis.
In recent years, some countries, including the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Israel, Australia, and a number of states in the US, have legalized medical use of cannabis when prescribed or provided by healthcare professionals. Other countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland, and the United Kingdom allow treatment with medical cannabis for a narrow range of medical conditions in patients where all other options of conventional treatment have been tried without reaching treatment targets. Most commonly, a specialist with a specific license prescribes the cannabis products, and also pharmacies need a license to supply them
Medical marijuana is now legal and the main use of the drug medically has been for epilepsy, and the results have been life-changing for many. Other uses include dealing with stress, chronic pain and sleep issues.
The Difference between Medical Cannabis and Marijuana for recreational use.
The quality of the evidence of potential benefit as well as adverse effects is low . Furthermore, cannabis contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the euphoric component in cannabis for recreational use , and for this reason it gives rise to concerns about abuse and addiction . However, medical cannabis and cannabis for recreational use are different from each other, as medical cannabis is subject to stricter requirements than recreational cannabis in terms of therapeutic safety, cultivation and manufacturing . Another main component used in some preparations of medical cannabis is cannabidiol (CBD) which is non-euphoric. Depending on the needs to address, THC and CBD is given to patients in controlled, carefully metered doses.
How does US function for dispensing Medical Marijuana
Physicians and medical Doctors in states having authorized the medical use of cannabis can certify or recommend that their patients had a qualifying medical condition allowing the use of cannabis for medical purposes, but can not actually issue a prescription. The only lawful ways to dispense it, is as part of a federally approved research program or through state laws, which may permit caregivers and/or other healthcare workers to manufacture and distribute cannabis preparations to patients.
How do doctors and physicians feel about enquiries and prescriptions of medical marijuana
In a survey conducted in the US, seventy eight percent of physicians and general practitioners feel uncomfortable with indicating dosage, frequency, and method of administration of cannabis prescriptions. Studies show significant associations between physicians’ experiences with prescribing medical cannabis and their self-reported knowledge of it and confidence in prescribing it. Significantly higher proportions of physicians experienced in prescribing medical cannabis feel comfortable with providing it and report themselves as having greater knowledge of medical cannabis compared to physicians who have never provided it.
Their opinion on Medical Marijuana as Doctors on its adverse effects and misuse
A qualitative study including physicians’ and medical doctor’s experiences with effects and adverse effects from medical cannabis, reported that some physicians, including family physicians and oncologists describe positive impressions of how medical cannabis helps their patients, and they view it as useful. They claim to see more efficacy of medical cannabis in real life than proven in literature, and hands-on experiences are mentioned as having a crucial impact on their views and on their decisions of providing it. Therefore these studies conclude that their positive attitude may stem from the fact that their patients experience beneficial effects of treatment with medical cannabis.
Some medical doctors argue that marijuana is a social and criminal matter which should not fall under the professional domain of medicine. Whereas other physicians accept cannabis as medicine for patients with a specific diagnosis. Studies generally show that significantly lower proportions of physicians with specialty, or other educational skills in addiction medicine, support the legal use of medical cannabis, compared to physicians with other specialties, including general practitioners. Given the current status more research, including larger studies with cohort designs and qualitative studies, is needed to examine facilitators and barriers to physicians’ prescribing practices.
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