Faith Houston, a senior in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Mississippi, aspires to be “an informed and compassionate pharmacist who can serve patients well.” When the time came to write her Honors thesis, the Mississippi native was intrigued by the role of pharmacists in the state’s emerging medical marijuana program. However, she found that they have no role at all.
Houston learned that Mississippi’s medical cannabis law, enacted in 2022, makes no mention of pharmacists or their involvement in the dispensing of medical cannabis. “When I saw that there was no pharmacist involvement indicated in the new legislation, I was very surprised,” she said. “Pharmacists are the medication experts of the healthcare team and are typically the distributors of their patient’s medications. It is odd that in the case of medical cannabis, there is not a medical professional in place to distribute and counsel patients on the use of a new drug.”
Legal Framework and Pharmacist Engagement
The Mississippi law designates only physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and optometrists as having roles in guiding patients on the use of the drug. In contrast, Houston highlights practices in states like Minnesota, Arkansas, and Connecticut, where pharmacists are either dispensing the drug or available as consultants for dispensaries.
To delve deeper into the attitudes of Mississippi’s pharmacists regarding the new law, Houston conducted a survey that garnered responses from nineteen pharmacists. The results showed a divided opinion on whether medical marijuana should be legalized: nine supported it, seven opposed it, and three remained uncertain. Additionally, only five of the pharmacists reported feeling well-educated about medical marijuana.
“The University of Mississippi Pharmacy School could play a significant role in educating both current and future pharmacists about medical cannabis,” Houston suggested. With ongoing research at the National Center for Natural Products, the school has the potential to contribute findings and develop continuing education for practicing pharmacists.
Educational Gaps in Pharmacy Curriculum
Houston emphasized the importance of addressing the educational gap in pharmacy programs. “New medications are added to these classes almost every year, so it would be quite natural for the school to incorporate information regarding the medical uses of cannabis as well,” she stated.
Pharmacist Opinions About Medical Cannabis
Results from Houston’s survey indicated a variety of opinions among pharmacists:
- In favor of the legalization of medical marijuana? Yes: 9 (47.4%), No: 7 (36.8%), Unsure: 3 (15.8%)
- Patients would benefit from medical marijuana? Yes: 10 (52.6%), No: 1 (5.3%), Unsure: 8 (42.1%)
- Are you well-educated about medical marijuana? Yes: 5 (26.3%), No: 14 (73.7%)
- Do you think that medical cannabis has been researched enough? Yes: 7 (36.8%), No: 12 (63.2%)
In addition to statistical responses, Houston gathered qualitative data from the pharmacists, revealing their concerns about safety, drug interactions, and the overall management of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program. Comments included:
- “I’m concerned about safety, especially regarding drug interactions.”
- “I’ve had no formal education on it.”
- “MSDH was given the task of overseeing the program with almost zero guidance, funding, or regulation.”
- “Patients who will flood the pharmacy looking for recreational marijuana.”
- “Pharmacy left out.”
- “We need to figure out how to secure the patient’s medical marijuana while documenting its use in the facility.”
Houston noted that these responses highlight significant concern among healthcare professionals about knowledge, safety, and drug interactions. Notably, Mississippi’s law does not seek the input of pharmacists in shaping the landscape of medical cannabis.
