Download our Educational Brochure

The information below is also provided in a printable PDF version that can be used for cannabis education purposes:

Overview of Medical Cannabis

The Importance of Patient Cannabis Education

Understanding the science behind medical cannabis is essential to effective patient education. This knowledge is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers and can lead to more effective outcomes in patient care.

Medical cannabis has been used to treat various health conditions, including chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. For patients to make informed decisions about their treatment options and engage effectively in their care, they need to understand how medical cannabis works, its potential benefits, and risks. This is where health literacy comes into play.

Health literacy refers to a patient’s ability to understand and act upon health information. When it comes to cannabis, educational materials such as brochures, websites, and other resources play a critical role. Research has shown that higher health literacy is associated with better self-care and health outcomes, highlighting the importance of patient education in healthcare systems.

Healthcare providers, including physicians and clinical teams, have a crucial role in improving the quality of patient education. By engaging in open dialogues with their patients about their experiences with medical cannabis, providers can address the patient’s concerns, influence patient behavior toward treatment, and support their decision-making process. For example, teaching patients about the entourage effect, which describes the potential enhanced efficacy of the combined components of cannabis, can significantly improve their understanding of their treatment.

But the responsibility for patient education extends beyond individual healthcare providers. Healthcare organizations, from hospitals to community clinics, must focus on creating patient-centered education programs. These programs should not only educate the public on the benefits and risks of medical cannabis but also provide resources for self-management, a key component of chronic illness care.

Long-term, these education efforts can lead to better health outcomes and improved quality of life for patients using medical cannabis. However, it’s important to remember that education is not a one-time event but a continuous process. Therefore, ongoing research is needed to continually update and refine education materials and strategies.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into our patient education materials!

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) can be viewed as a lock and key system, providing the foundation for how cannabinoids interact with our mind and body. The ECS acts as a regulator of all bodily systems, including, but not limited to those that regulate sleep, mood, appetite, memory, and reproduction, working to bring the body into balance or homeostasis.

The ECS is made of two main receptors located across the body, the CB1 and CB2, which act as “master conductors” of signals throughout the whole body, intuitively delivering cannabinoids to the parts in the body that need them most. Cannabinoids exist within the body already, and are called endocannabinoids. Using cannabis introduces phytocannabinoids to the body via the ECS. Yes, the body and cannabis both produce cannabinoids!

Components of the Cannabis Plant

Cannabis is a complex plant with various components that contribute to the flavor, aroma, and effect of various cultivars (commonly known as “strains”). These components include:

Cannabinoids

Join to the CB1 and CB2 within the body (i.e.THC and CBD)

Terpenes

Produce flavor, aroma, and various therapeutic and medicinal effects

Flavonoids

Influence the color of cannabis with a few therapeutic properties

Thiols

Believed to be what provides the “skunky” smell of cannabis

Aldehydes

May influence terpenes by chemically changing their makeup

Esters

Provide some fruity flavors and may modulate and mitigate the effects of terpenes