Age, Education, and Competency: What Medical Cannabis Patients in Israel Teach Us About Physician Training
If cannabis were a medicine like any other, physicians would have a clear playbook: standardized dosing, well-established safety data, and a tidy pharmacology section in Harrison’s. But cannabis is not tidy. It sits at the intersection of history, stigma, patient demand, and regulatory uncertainty. The question is no longer if physicians will encounter patients using medical cannabis — it’s how well prepared they are when it happens.
A new study by Zolotov and colleagues (2025) offers a patient-centered perspective by asking those most affected — medical cannabis patients in Israel — what they think of their physicians’ knowledge, guidance, and training. Their insights are both affirming and sobering.
The Study at a Glance
The researchers surveyed 233 licensed medical cannabis patients in Israel (mean age 58.8 years) about:
Patterns of use (frequency, methods, cannabinoid content).
Sources of education and training (physicians, pharmacists, internet, peers).
Perceptions of physician competencies (from dosing guidance to understanding stigma).
The age-stratified results reveal a landscape where cannabis use looks very different depending on life stage — and where physician preparedness doesn’t always meet patient expectations.
What the Data Show
Routes of administration split by age. Younger patients (18–33) leaned toward smoking (40%), while older patients (65+) preferred ingestion methods (65.5%). Vaping sat somewhere in the middle, spanning all ages.
THC vs. CBD preferences. Younger participants reported products higher in THC, while older patients favored CBD-rich products.
Education and training gaps. Nearly 90% reported some form of education, mostly from physicians (74.7%) and pharmacists (67.2%). But structured training was less common for younger patients, who often turned to peers or the internet.
Competency expectations. Patients wanted physicians to discuss risks and benefits, but age shaped which competencies mattered most. Younger participants emphasized understanding stigma, social impacts, and even cannabis’ effect on driving, while older patients focused more on medical safety and dosing.
As the authors conclude:
“Ensuring that physician training programs address both clinical and psychosocial aspects of medical cannabis use could improve patient care and enhance personal and public safety.”
Why This Matters
The study highlights a paradox: physicians are the primary educators on cannabis, yet patients — particularly younger ones — often find their guidance incomplete. In whimsical terms: cannabis is the exam question, and too many doctors are still showing up without the answer key.
Age differences also matter. Younger patients may be closer to recreational patterns of use, valuing high-THC inhalation. Older patients, managing Parkinson’s or chronic pain, often prefer oral CBD-rich preparations for steady symptom relief. These generational divides shape what patients expect from their clinicians — and expose where education falls short.
Lessons for Healthcare Professionals
Training needs to evolve with age. Tailored education — whether for young adults concerned about stigma or older patients balancing polypharmacy — is essential.
Pharmacists are underutilized allies. Their role as top trainers in this study suggests the value of team-based education strategies.
Physician competencies must expand. Beyond knowing “risks and benefits,” clinicians need fluency in the social, financial, and daily-life impacts of cannabis.
Closing Thought
This study, when read alongside recent work on interdisciplinary training models in the U.S., highlights two sides of the same challenge: building healthcare systems where providers are both well-trained and perceived as competent by their patients. Zolotov and colleagues remind us that cannabis education is not just about molecules and receptors. It’s about patients navigating stigma, side effects, and safety, often without adequate guidance. Bridging that gap requires investment in physician training that blends clinical evidence with human context.
For healthcare professionals in Israel, the U.S., and beyond, the lesson is clear: cannabis conversations are already happening. The question is whether we meet them with silence, uncertainty, or informed, compassionate guidance.
PRC+ offers training modules and develops high-quality educational programs on cannabis and cannabinoids. Whether your focus is clinical practice, public health, or research, our team can design evidence-based training tailored to your needs. Reach out to us today to create a custom live training, conducted and instructed by our team of experts. Email us at PRCtrials.info@gmail.com