Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding the Therapeutic Use of Cannabinoids among Community Pharmacists: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study in Amman, Jordan

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the therapeutic use of cannabis worldwide, with a number of cannabinoid-derived drugs currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain indications. This study was conducted via a printed questionnaire and aimed to explore the attitudes and knowledge regarding the therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids among community pharmacists residing in Amman, Jordan. The results revealed a neutral to low agreement level regarding the medical usefulness of cannabis; however, a higher agreement level was observed for FDA-approved cannabinoid-derived drugs. The majority of the participants reported that they did not learn enough regarding cannabinoids, do not adequately remember what they have learned, and do not actively look for information after graduation. The average percentages of correct identification of cannabis/cannabinoid FDA-approved drug indications, common adverse effects, interacting drugs, and cautions/contraindications were 40.6%, 53%, 49.4%, and 57.3%, respectively, with an overall correct identification rate of 51.1% of the participants. In conclusion, the results indicate an inadequate level of knowledge with a significant room for improvement regarding the various aspects of cannabinoid pharmacology.