As more Georgia residents turn to medical cannabis for relief from chronic pain, anxiety, and other conditions, the need for informed, compassionate medical guidance has never been greater. Yet across the country, many healthcare providers still lack the training needed to confidently discuss or recommend cannabis treatments.

A recent commentary published in JAMA Network Open — one of the most respected medical journals in the U.S. — is calling for change. The authors urge clinicians to receive formal education on cannabis, stating that “it is no longer defensible for clinicians to remain willfully ignorant.”

“Clinicians are increasingly confronted by patients using cannabis, often unsupervised and poorly informed,” the commentary noted. “Medical cannabis is here. Will physicians catch up, or will we continue to let patients navigate therapeutic uncertainty alone?”

The Six Core Areas Clinicians Need to Understand

The JAMA commentary identifies six essential areas of cannabis education:

1. Endocannabinoid system physiology – understanding how cannabis interacts with the body
2. Pharmacokinetics of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids – how these compounds are absorbed and processed
3. Clinical indications – such as chronic pain and chemotherapy-related nausea
4. Risk profiles, dosing, and administration methods
5. Legal and regulatory frameworks
6. Patient-centered communication and shared decision-making

By mastering these competencies, Georgia clinicians can better guide patients through safe, effective cannabis use — especially as medical cannabis access expands across the state.

Why This Matters for Georgia Patients

Despite growing acceptance, most healthcare providers say they’ve received little to no training on medical cannabis. According to surveys, fewer than one in five patients believe their primary care provider is knowledgeable about cannabis-related care. Many are left seeking advice from friends, online forums, or dispensary staff instead of trusted medical professionals.

For Georgia’s patients, this gap in education can lead to confusion, inconsistent results, and missed opportunities for relief.

The JAMA authors argue that healthcare professionals shouldn’t wait for federal reclassification to act:

“Education can and must advance based on patient needs, accumulated clinical evidence, and ethical obligations.”

Building a Better Medical Cannabis Future in Georgia

At Elevated Health MD, we’re helping bridge the gap between patients and qualified medical care. Our Georgia-certified providers are trained to evaluate your health needs and determine whether medical cannabis is right for you.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your wellness journey, schedule your Georgia medical cannabis evaluation today at Elevated Health MD.