As a psychiatric NP, I’m required to ask patients about the drugs they are currently taking, whether legally or illegally. This is important information to know regarding patients’ overall health, as well as for deciding which medication is safe to prescribe for them. With the recent changes in cannabis legalization, more and more patients who report using medical or recreational marijuana are being seen in health care environments.

More patients using cannabis products.

Staying knowledgeable of the effects, adverse effects, and potential interactions of marijuana is therefore critical for those of us caring for patients. Yet there isn’t much focus on marijuana education in the general training of health care professionals and cannabis is often not included in drug guidebooks.

A survey of primary care physicians, NPs, and physician assistants found that more than 30% believed that medical cannabis interacted with medical therapies and 50% did not feel  comfortable answering patients’ questions about medical cannabis.

As health care providers we need to do better than this. If you find yourself in a similar situation where you are caring for patients you know use marijuana products but don’t feel confident in your knowledge level about such products, check out AJN’s November Nursing Resources column. Here you will find links to information on the current evidence, legislation, and various nursing organization positions related to marijuana use, as well as useful patient information.

Christine Moffa, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Senior Clinical Editor, American Journal of Nursing