Ethical issues in medical cannabis use

Iftach Sagy; Tal Peleg-Sagy; Leonid Barski; Lior Zeller; Alan Jotkowitz

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2018.01.016

Ethical issues in medical cannabis use

Eur J Intern Med. 2018 Mar:49:20-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2018.01.016.

Authors

Iftach Sagy¹, Tal Peleg-Sagy², Leonid Barski³, Lior Zeller³, Alan Jotkowitz³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Internal Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: iftachsa@clalit.org.il.
² Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Israel; Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
³ Division of Internal Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

PMID: 29482739
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2018.01.016

Abstract

The increasing use of medical cannabis (MC) in the past decade raises several ethical considerations for the clinician. Regulatory issues stem from a gap between MC registration and certification in each country. Professional issues derive from the lack of sufficient knowledge of MC characteristics and the intersection between the physician, the patient and commercial interests. Finally, there are medical and psychological implications which are related to the use of MC regimens. We will discuss these issues in the light of the current era, in which policy has rapidly shifted toward legalization of cannabis, which influences the decisions of both clinicians and patients.

Keywords: Ethical considerations; Medical cannabis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ethics, Medical*
Government Regulation
Humans
Legislation, Medical*
Medical Marijuana / therapeutic use*

Substances

Medical Marijuana