{"id":54592,"date":"2022-10-20T09:30:54","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T13:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=54592"},"modified":"2026-03-26T20:56:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T00:56:55","slug":"patient-education-on-marijuana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/patient-education-on-marijuana\/","title":{"rendered":"How to talk to your patients about marijuana"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medical and recreational marijuana use is expanding across the country. It\u2019s no surprise, as many patients may find benefits for a variety of health conditions. As a result, the pharmacist\u2019s role is evolving with an increased need for patient counseling and talking to patients about marijuana.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether in dedicated dispensaries or retail and <\/span>hospital settings<\/span><\/a>, pharmacists may face a situation in which a patient is interested or already using medical marijuana. Some patients may even be using related products, such as <\/span>CBD oil<\/span><\/a>, which can now be found on some retail pharmacy shelves. Continue reading to learn more about how to talk to patients about medical marijuana.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the endocannabinoid system<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many pharmacists may be apprehensive about cannabis simply because they don\u2019t know enough about it. Often, pharmacy schools gloss over medical marijuana use, which can lead to a poor understanding of how cannabis is used. In recent years though, with the legalization of medical marijuana, some pharmacy programs have added <\/span>courses<\/span><\/a> to help students build a better foundation. Continuing education (CE) courses on medical cannabis are also available for pharmacists through different organizations, such as the <\/span>American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)<\/span><\/a>. Pharmacists that have some knowledge on this topic can make more informed clinical decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Marijuana contains over <\/span>400<\/span><\/a> different chemical compounds, such as flavonoids, cannabinoids, and terpenoids. The active components of marijuana are cannabinoids, which have a range of effects on the human body. Through the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids can affect blood pressure, metabolism, pain control, and other functions of the body. Cannabinoids are believed to work on the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors) found throughout the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Educating patients about marijuana<\/span><\/h2>\n

As the research and use of medical cannabis continue to grow, pharmacists can play an important role in educating patients. Pharmacists can help drive patient-centered care with cannabis by being non-judgmental and open-minded. In addition, active listening can be a useful way to get the patient to open up about cannabis use and counsel them accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Uses of medical marijuana<\/span><\/h3>\n

Medical marijuana programs may differ by state in the qualifying health conditions that would make a patient eligible to receive treatment. Medical marijuana can be used to help relieve symptoms of various conditions. For example, healthcare providers may prescribe it to help relieve pain, manage nausea and vomiting, or improve appetite. Research suggests that medical marijuana can be prescribed for <\/span>certain conditions<\/span><\/a>, including:<\/span><\/p>\n