Perceived Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis and Cannabis Knowledge among Alabama Physicians
Abstract number :
3.387
Submission category :
8. Non-ASM/Non-Surgical Treatments (Hormonal, alternative, etc.)
Year :
2025
Submission ID :
206
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/8/2025 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Authors :
Presenting Author: Magdalena Szaflarski, PhD – University of Alabama at Birmingham
Laura Nguyen, BS – University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jerzy Szaflarski, MD, PhD – University of Alabama at Birmingham
Rationale: There is growing evidence of the value but also limitations of cannabinoid-based treatments in cancer, epilepsy, pain, and other conditions. Medical cannabis use is also gaining in popularity among patients and the general public, especially in states that have legalized medical cannabis use. However, physicians, including neurologists, often lack sufficient knowledge to address medical cannabis use in their practice. This study assessed perceptions of medical cannabis and cannabis knowledge among physicians of diverse specialties in Alabama.
Methods: Members of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama were invited via a group email to complete a structured online questionnaire during 2/23-5/1/21. The survey included a battery of items (lists, Likert-type questions) assessing physicians’ perceptions and knowledge of cannabinoid therapies for specific conditions (neurological/neurodevelopmental, mental/behavioral, and other). Demographic and professional status information was also collected. We computed percentage distributions of responses for the full sample and for neurologists only.
Results: A total of 399 respondents completed the full survey and provided demographic/professional information. Mean age was 56 years (SD=13.2); 65% were male, 88% white, and 2% Hispanic/Latinx. Mean professional tenure was 23 years (SD=12.7). Twenty-four percent of respondents were affiliated with an academic center, and 7% were neurologists. The top neurological/neurodevelopmental conditions for which medical cannabis was viewed by all physicians to be effective were epilepsy and chronic pain (32-33%) followed by spasticity (26-27%; Table 1). However, more neurologists than physicians overall viewed medical cannabis as effective for epilepsy (48%), chronic pain (37%), and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis (33%). Neurologists viewed cannabidiol and pharmaceutical-grade products for epilepsy even more favorably (52%). More neurologists than physicians overall also viewed medical cannabis effective for mental/behavioral disorders (e.g., 19% vs. 8% for depression, 33% vs. 22% for anxiety, and 15% vs. 7% for autism spectrum disorders). The majority of respondents disagreed that they had sufficient knowledge about medical cannabis (60%) and agreed that they needed education (85%; Table 2). Physicians favored CME programming (41%) and webinars (31%) over in-person lectures (15%) and medical journals (10%) as cannabis education venues.
Conclusions: Many physicians view cannabinoid therapies as effective for cancer-related conditions, terminal illness, epilepsy, chronic pain, and HIV/AIDS symptoms, but fewer view them effective for other conditions. These views are consistent with scientific evidence about cannabinoid treatments, but potentially there are knowledge gaps. Neurologists appear more likely than other specialists to view these therapies as effective for epilepsy, other neurological/neurodevelopmental, and mental/behavioral disorders, confirming past research. Cannabis knowledge gaps among physicians warrant further education.
Funding: UAB Lister Hill Center for Health Policy
Non-ASM