The proliferation of medical cannabis throughout the U.S. is slowly but surely changing some fundamental aspects of medicine. Take medical cannabis and primary care. They are no longer at odds to the same extent they were two decades ago. It is even possible to find primary care physicians that vigorously support the use of medical cannabis.
Given that primary care is the first stop for most people in need of healthcare delivery, the primary care physician will likely take on a greater role in the medical cannabis space of the future. But what about right now? Where does primary care stand and what can patients expect from their doctors?
If we know one thing about medical cannabis, it is the fact that there are few black-and-white answers to questions like these. Nonetheless, we do know enough about primary care and medical cannabis to establish some foundational principles.
1. Always Start With a Primary Care Doctor
Anyone thinking that medical cannabis might be right for them should avoid the temptation to immediately run off to a doctor whose practice revolves almost entirely around medical cannabis. Instead, that person should first consult with their primary care physician.
A primary care physician has a history with the patient. That doctor knows the patient’s health history in current medical condition better than anyone else. A referral to a doctor specializing in medical cannabis treatments can come later, if necessary.
2. Some Are on Board, Others Are Not
A visit to one’s primary care doctor quickly reveals whether or not that doctor is on board with medical cannabis. Some are, others are not. The interesting thing is that a greater number are in the ‘on board’ category. According to research done in 2021, 70% of clinicians in the U.S. support the idea of using cannabis as a medicine.
A patient whose doctor is on board might still have to see another doctor to get an actual cannabis recommendation. That is because not all doctors are certified or licensed to recommend cannabis.
3. Doctors Are Bound by State Laws
Primary care doctors are bound by state laws where cannabis recommendations are concerned. Let us look at Utah as an example, where the operators of the Beehive Farmacy medical cannabis dispensary in Salt Lake City say the state recognizes two types of medical professionals for cannabis recommendations.
The first is the Qualified Medical Provider (QMP). This is any licensed clinician with Utah prescribing authority who has also had further training and been certified to recommend cannabis. QMPs can recommend cannabis to more than 1,000 patients.
The second is the Limited Medical Provider (LMP). An LMP can also be any state licensed clinician with prescribing authority in Utah. However, LMPs have not had the extra training and are not state certified. They can only recommend cannabis to up to 15 patients. In Utah, a primary care doctor can act as a patient’s LMP.
4. Some Doctors Are Not Fully Informed
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, some primary care doctors are not fully informed about either medical cannabis or the human endocannabinoid system. A doctor in such a position would do right by his patient to recommend that person to another doctor with cannabis experience.
In most states with medical cannabis programs, primary care doctors can participate in some way, shape, or form. Some even specialize in medical cannabis therapies. Thanks to support among clinicians, medical cannabis is gaining ground in primary care. I can imagine a day when cannabis therapies are as common in primary care circles as prescription antibiotics.
