A recent study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research highlights that government sources are the least likely resource utilized by individuals seeking information about cannabis, with only 4.7% of respondents indicating they relied on these channels. The survey included 1,161 participants, of whom 27% reported consuming cannabis in the past year.
The findings show that friends and family were the most common sources for cannabis information, with 35.6% of respondents turning to them. Websites followed closely behind, with 33.7% of individuals citing them as their information source. Healthcare providers were consulted by 9.3% of respondents; however, 16.4% of registered medical cannabis patients reported obtaining information from their healthcare providers. Additionally, 8.6% of respondents relied on dispensary employees for cannabis information.
The study underscores the need for enhanced clinician education and improved public health outreach regarding cannabis, particularly as accessibility and legality continue to evolve. “As cannabis accessibility increases and legality continues changing, there is a strong need for better clinician education, improved public health outreach, and improved communication between patients and clinicians about cannabis,” the study notes.
Gender demographics among the survey respondents were nearly equal, with 51% identifying as female and 49% as male. The researchers also observed a positive correlation between past-year cannabis use and the utilization of various information sources, with the exception of government agencies and popular media articles.
