Some new particulars on what West Virginia physicians think about medical marijuana
In this post last week, I noted the notable data from a survey of West Virginia physicians. The state’s Department of Health and Human Resources found that, of “1,455 physicians who took the online survey, 82 percent of them indicated their interest in medical marijuana.” Now I see this new local article, headlined “WV State Medical Association drills down on medical marijuana survey,” reporting on a smaller survey conducted by the West Virginia State Medical Association. Here are a few details:
Medical Association President Dr. Brad Henry tells MetroNews the organization’s survey of its members show results not nearly as high as the state online survey that showed 82 percent of state doctors “interested” in medical marijuana.
In the WVSMA survey, in which approximately 75 doctors participated, only 31 percent said they were interested in becoming a certified physician for the state’s new medical marijuana law set to take effect in 2019. Henry said the issue continues to be the lack of research associated with the medicinal use of the drug. “Every time I read anything, anything that comes out, there’s some promise but there’s still aren’t good scientific studies to support marijuana use for anything,” Henry said. “There still isn’t that level of scientific information to at least give me confidence in the utility of it as a medicine.”
One thing the doctors are struggling with is the provision in the law that would have a doctor certify someone that has a diagnosis but there’s much else they can tell them because of the lack of research on the drug, Henry said. “You can’t look up (medical marijuana) in a textbook and say, ‘Okay, this is how much you should use. This is the side effects you should expect.’ Even over-the-counter (drugs) you can find what the usual dosages are and what the usual side effects are but with this substance (medical marijuana) that’s just not available,” Henry said….
Four of the questions in the medical association’s survey:
– Do you think there is scientific evidence to support marijuana use as a medical treatment? Yes 65 percent
– Do you believe the legal access to medical marijuana will help patients? Yes 64 percent
– Are you interested in becoming a certified physician? Yes 31 percent
– Are you willing to receive the training required for the certification? Yes 34 percent