Though patients have been quick to sign up for cannabis, doctors have been more hesitant. Currently, only 622 doctors have registered with the state’s ever-growing medical marijuana program. For the 28,000 patients might not know who to talk to about cannabis, this is far from enough.
A lack of research due to federal restrictions contributes to widespread physicians wariness. Doctor Elnahal regretted, “we want to see more research, better research, but we are not.” But anecdotal evidence and an increasing number of studies should give them confidence, suggests Elnahal.
“I want this [medical marijuana] to be in physicians’ and other providers’ heads as a therapeutic option—not something separate, not sort of in a different category like alternative medicine. This really is reaching a level of relevance and importance to patients,” he told the medical conference audience according to reporters.
Yet some audience members remained skeptical. A child psychiatrist said after the presentation, “We don’t have the evidence, for me, to jump on board to do that.” Another doctor named Jill Williams likened weed to alcohol. “I don’t think you can totally interpret that as medicinal. People use alcohol to cope with trauma and depression and other problems,” said Williams, an addiction psychiatrist.