Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Awareness Toward Marijuana Use

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of pharmacy students toward marijuana use. Methods Pharmacy students were asked to complete a survey that assess students’ knowledge, attitudes, and awareness toward marijuana use. This study also compared students’ awareness about the harmful effects of marijuana in comparing with alcohol and smoking tobacco. Participants were asked about the possibilities of marijuana-induced cancer and addiction. Results Twenty-three percent of pharmacy students reported having used marijuana at some point in their lives. In comparison with tobacco and alcohol, most of the students agreed that tobacco (49%) and alcohol (42%) are more harmful than marijuana ( P < .0001). More than sixty percent of students considered marijuana as an addictive substance ( P < .02). A 45% of students opposed the possibility of marijuana-induced cancer. Thirty-six percent of the students agreed that marijuana should be legalized for both medical and recreational use with a similar percentage of the students (30 – 32%) believed that marijuana should be legalized for medical use only. Conclusion With the prevalence of marijuana use and discrepancy among pharmacy students’ responses regarding knowledge, attitudes, and awareness pharmacy schools need to adopt educational activities about the benefits and risks of marijuana.