Physician Attitudes: Prescribing Cannabis to Cancer Patients

1
Physician Attitudes Prescribing Cannabis to
Cancer Patients

• A Look at a New England Journal of Medicine
  Survey

2
Medical Marijuana A Hot Topic

• The issue of medical marijuana use continues to
  been a controversial topic.
• Historically, physicians have been less approving
  of medical marijuana than the general public. Is
  this changing?
• 20 states and the District of Columbia have now
  approved marijuana use for medical purposes.

3
NEJM Survey

• Many surveys have been conducted over the years
  to gauge physician attitudes about medical
  marijuana use.
• In early 2013 the New England Journal of Medicine
  (NEJM) conducted an international survey among
  its readers about whether readers approved of
  medical marijuana.

4
NEJM Survey, contd

• NEJM presented the case of a 68-year-old woman
  with metastatic breast cancer as an example for
  readers and asked hypothetically whether she
  should be prescribed medical marijuana to help
  alleviate her symptoms.

5
Survey Results

• 1,446 votes in total were cast and included
  people in 72 countries and 56 states/provinces in
  North America.
• 76 voted in favor of marijuana use for medicinal
  purposes.

6
Survey Results, contd

• The majority (1,063) of the votes came from the
  U.S., Mexico and Canada.
• The percentage of U.S. survey-takers who voted in
  favor of medical marijuana varied drastically
  from one state to the next.
• In Pennsylvania, for example, 96 of voters were
  in support of medical marijuana, while just 1 of
  voters in Utah were in favor.

7
NEJM Survey Comments

• Despite the number of physicians surveyed who
  support medical marijuana use, there is still
  significant debate in the medical community.
• Opponents of medical marijuana point out that
  smoking cannabis could hurt the lungs, and they
  cite lack of evidence of marijuanas efficacy as
  well as negative side effects including memory,
  psychomotor and other impairments, among other
  issues.

8
NEJM Survey Comments, contd

• Supporters of medical marijuana cited feeling a
  sense of responsibility as a physician to relive
  patient suffering, while others reported having
  witnessed first-hand the benefits their patients
  experienced using medicinal marijuana.
• Supporters also pointed out the dangers of
  prescription narcotics as compared to marijuana.

9
Finding Common Ground

• There was at least one issue that physicians on
  opposing sides of the argument could agree on,
  however
• While the majority would recommend the use of
  medicinal marijuana in certain circumstances,
  both sides largely agreed that more evidence is
  needed on the efficacy and safety of medical
  marijuana.
• Read more about the NEJM survey here.

10
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