Study Finds Cannabis Users Rely on Dispensary Staff Over Doctors for Marijuana Guidance

A new federally funded study reveals that people who use marijuana in the United States place greater trust in dispensary staff than in healthcare professionals or government agencies when seeking information about cannabis. Researchers from the University of California and Johns Hopkins University surveyed 1,023 adults who had used THC-containing cannabis products within the past month, asking them to rate various sources of marijuana information

The findings, published in the journal Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, show dispensary staff received the highest trust rating, averaging 3.7 out of 5, compared to friends at 3.5 and healthcare providers at 3.4. State and federal government officials lagged behind with scores of 2.9, while social media and other cannabis sellers tied at 2.6. The study noted, 'For many who use cannabis, dispensary staff are a more trusted source of information than healthcare providers.'

The study also found that motivations for cannabis use influenced who participants trusted most. When considering medicinal use, 55% of respondents chose healthcare providers as their most trusted source, followed by dispensary staff at 20%. However, for recreational purposes, dispensary staff were trusted most by 47% of users, with friends at 37%. 'Trust in cannabis information sources depends on motivation for use,' the researchers observed

The research team emphasized the need for better cannabis education among medical professionals, stating, 'Scientific and medical information about cannabis lags behind emerging cannabis markets.' For the growing number of cannabis users, OG Lab notes that bridging the knowledge gap between dispensaries and healthcare providers could lead to more informed and safer cannabis consumption