It is always interesting to gauge consumer acceptance when talking about medical cannabis therapies. It’s one thing to suggest that the majority of Americans want to see cannabis decriminalized. It is another matter entirely to ask them whether they would use it to treat their own medical conditions. Apparently, dermatology patients don’t have any trouble with it.
A recently released study by the University of Maryland and George Washington University shows that an astounding number of dermatology patients would be willing to try a cannabis therapy if recommended by their doctors. Many of the surveyed patients had already used over-the-counter cannabis therapies.
Nearly Universal Appeal
The study in question was conducted as a survey sent out to seven hundred participants. Each participant had previously been diagnosed with a dermatological condition. Of the total number, 504 participants returned their surveys. Here is what the data revealed:
- 6% had already used an OTC cannabis therapy without a doctor’s recommendation.
- 3% had used an OTC therapy after consulting with a dermatologist.
- 8% had used a cannabis-based therapy requiring registration with the state’s medical cannabis program.
- 8% said they would be willing to utilize a cannabis-based therapy if their dermatologists recommended it.
- The most common condition treated was acne (38.4%) followed by psoriasis (32%) and rosacea (30%).
It is clear that dermatology patients approve of medical cannabis therapies. At the very least, they are not scared of them. However, the survey also indicated a distinct difference between acceptance and actual uptake. In other words, despite nearly 90% of the respondents being accepting of cannabis therapies, less than 20% were actually using them.
Explaining the Disconnect
The study’s authors attempted to explain the disconnect between acceptance and uptake by suggesting that patients were both skeptical and lacking in understanding. They concluded that doctors and patients alike could be encouraged to actually go the medical cannabis route if they were further educated about its benefits.
In order to do that, more research is needed. While patients are more willing to try cannabis-based therapies upon recommendation from a medical provider, doctors are less likely to recommend medical cannabis without scientific data backing up its safety and efficacy.
Research Is Picking Up
It goes without saying that virtually every FDA-approved drug has undergone more clinical research than cannabis. But according to the organization behind Utahmarijuana.org, research in multiple areas is picking up. Scientists are looking at the possibility of utilizing cannabis to treat a full array of diseases and conditions.
In addition to looking for new medical cannabis therapies, researchers are also attempting to explain how cannabis relieves nausea, reduces PTSD symptoms, and prevents seizures. In essence, there are many conditions for which medical cannabis has proved appropriate despite science not understanding why.
It would obviously be helpful to understand the mechanisms behind cannabis efficacy. Once we understand how cannabis works, we can apply it to all sorts of diseases and conditions for which current treatments are inadequate.
Cannabis Acceptance Is Growing
It is clear from the dermatology study that cannabis acceptance is growing. The results fall in line with numerous other studies that show the vast majority of Americans agree with the concept of using cannabis as a medicine. No doubt that cannabis has come a long way since California first legalized it for medical purposes in 1996.
Do you live with a dermatological condition? If so, would you follow a doctor’s recommendation to use a cannabis-based therapy? Nearly 90% of your peers would. That is pretty amazing at a time when it’s hard to get people to agree on anything.