A recent survey among Irish doctors has shed light on their attitudes towards cannabis and medical marijuana use and the decriminalisation of certain substances.
Cannabis survey among doctors
There were 89 doctors who participated in the anonymous survey. The survey was open to all disciplines. Doctors were asked for their views on and experiences with both personal and professional drug use. According to the research, a significant number of doctors have tried drugs, with cannabis being the most popular choice. Additionally, the majority of physicians endorsed the decriminalisation of modest amounts of cannabis used for personal purposes.
According to the survey results, 37% of Irish doctors have tried cannabis at a time. 8% of doctors now use cannabis, with 5% admitting frequent usage, according to the poll.
Cannabis for recreational use is not legal in Ireland. Moreover, it is essential to keep in mind that the study’s sample size was somewhat small, and the results could not be completely representative of Ireland’s overall medical community.
Doctors’ approach in Ireland
In terms of drug policy, survey shows that 54% of the doctors were in favour of decriminalising cannabis usage in small amounts for personal use. They believe that people found with small amounts of cannabis should not go via the criminal justice system. However, such people should be treated within the healthcare system.
The survey found that the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is becoming more and more accepted through the medical community. A strong 80% of the physicians surveyed said they were in favour of legalising cannabis for medical purposes. In addition, 56% of respondents said that if fully legal, they would be happy to prescribe medical cannabis. Now the procedure is not that easy. The most typical illness for which a doctor would recommend medical cannabis was pain relief. Following ones were epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, anxiety, and depression. There are examples of people whom cannabis helped to come back to work or continue working.
The survey’s results offer an overview into drug usage and views toward decriminalisation among Irish medical professionals, but because of the small number of respondents, they should be reviewed with care. Nevertheless, the findings point to a change in medical professionals’ perceptions toward a more sympathetic and fact-based approach to drug regulation. Moreover, as we know, people’s attitude for medical cannabis is also changing.
In order to inform decisions about drug policy, there is an increasing focus on medication and therapy rather than punishment. This emphasises the need for further study and collaboration between respected organisations.