Cannabis education in United States Pharmacy Colleges and Schools

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionGiven the rapid change in legal status and rise in cannabis use within the United States (U.S.), pharmacists will increasingly require competence in issues related to cannabis, especially for medical use. Pharmacy students and professionals in other health fields report low levels of cannabis knowledge, and medical cannabis users report that their knowledge is mostly from their own experiences and the internet. Several pharmacy organizations have advocated for pharmacists' education on therapeutic and legal issues related to medical cannabis.ObjectivesTo determine the extent to which cannabis and its medical use are covered in the educational curricula of U.S. schools and colleges of pharmacy, plans for future coverage of medical cannabis, and differences by the state‐level legal status of cannabis.MethodsPharmacy schools and colleges located within the U.S. were identified via the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education website. A 19‐item survey was developed by researchers with experience in curriculum development and pharmaceutical issues related to cannabis. One individual from each school provided detailed information on the inclusion of medical cannabis/marijuana topics in their Doctor of Pharmacy program.ResultsTwo‐thirds (67%) of programs responded to the survey. Most programs (85.4%) had content on medical cannabis available in their curriculum, 53.1% in their required curriculum, 65.6% in their elective curriculum, and 33.0% in both their required and elective curricula. A small proportion (16.7%) had a stand‐alone medical cannabis elective course. Stand‐alone electives had the most comprehensive coverage of cannabis topics. General required and elective courses had minor differences in comprehensiveness.ConclusionResults demonstrate a moderately rapid expansion in cannabis coverage in pharmacy curricula, although coverage of cannabis topics is rarely comprehensive. Additional efforts are needed to integrate cannabis into coursework and experiential learning experiences.