Shifting Attitudes, Persistent Gaps: A Systematic Review of Cannabis Knowledge Among Students and Professionals

Medical cannabis has been legal in dozens of countries for years, yet healthcare classrooms still lag behind patient demand. A sweeping systematic review by Weisman and Rodríguez (2021) examined forty studies published between 1971 and 2019, pooling responses from more than 15,000 participants — both medical students and healthcare professionals — to answer a deceptively simple question: what do the people who train and treat patients actually know about cannabis?

The answer: opinions are warming, but education hasn’t caught up.

The Study at a Glance

The review synthesized 40 studies across North America, Europe, and beyond, exploring seven guiding questions:

1. Should cannabis be legalized for medical purposes?

2. Does cannabis have therapeutic utility?

3. Should recreational use be legalized?

4. Should U.S. federal law reschedule cannabis from Schedule I?

5. Do students and professionals feel confident in their cannabis knowledge?

6. Do they want more education?

7. Are they concerned about addiction and dependence?

What the Data Showed

• Legalization support is rising. From 1991 to 2019, support for medical cannabis legalization increased steadily. Professionals favored it at higher rates than students (52% vs. 42%)

• Belief in therapeutic potential. About 64% of all respondents believed cannabis has medical utility. Students were more enthusiastic than professionals (77% vs. 65%)

• Recreational use divides. Only 36% overall supported recreational legalization. Students were more likely to support it than professionals (43% vs. 30%)

• Federal rescheduling. Among U.S.-based studies, about half of respondents supported easing cannabis’ Schedule I status, again with students more favorable than professionals (60% vs. 46%)

• Confidence is low. Only 41% overall felt confident in their cannabis knowledge. Strikingly, students reported more confidence than professionals (58% vs. 33%) — perhaps reflecting enthusiasm or a Dunning-Kruger effect

• Education is the consensus. A remarkable 86% wanted more cannabis education incorporated into curricula and continuing training

• Dependence concerns linger. Roughly 58% worried about cannabis’ potential for addiction and dependence — a consistent finding over the last decade

As the authors put it:

“The finding that both medical students’ and professionals’ acceptance of medical cannabis has significantly increased — in conjunction with their consistent, strong desire for more educational material — suggests that the medical community should prioritize the development of MC educational programs.”

The review underscores the paradox of cannabis in healthcare: attitudes are shifting faster than knowledge. Students, often more optimistic about therapeutic potential, may lack formal instruction. Professionals, more cautious, admit their training is inadequate. Both groups, however, converge on the same point: the need for structured education.

Lessons for Healthcare Professionals

1. Support is not the same as competence. Endorsing medical cannabis does not equate to having the tools to guide patients safely.

2. Students may overestimate knowledge. Confidence gaps suggest that enthusiasm doesn’t always align with clinical understanding.

3. Curricula must modernize. From undergraduate training to CME, programs must integrate balanced cannabis science.

4. Concerns about addiction remain valid. Education should not gloss over risks, but contextualize them within evidence.

When combined with recent studies — Cronin et al.’s (2025) U.S. training model, Zolotov et al.’s (2025) patient perceptions in Israel, and Worster et al.’s (2023) interprofessional clinician survey — this review provides the historical backdrop. It shows how acceptance has grown over decades but highlights the same refrain: training, training, training.

Closing Thought

Weisman and Rodríguez (2021) remind us that without education, acceptance is a hollow victory. If cannabis is to move from contested plant to legitimate therapy, healthcare professionals must be equipped not just with opinions, but with knowledge.

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