WASHINGTON (October 7, 2025) — As medical cannabis use expands rapidly across the United States, most physicians-in-training report feeling unprepared to counsel patients or integrate cannabis into treatment plans.
A new study published today in JAMA Network Open outlines the first set of agreed-upon competencies to help medical schools design teaching curriculums to assure that future doctors know about the medical, legal, and ethical aspects of cannabis therapeutics .
Researchers convened a national panel of 23 experts in clinical care and academic medicine to identify what medical students should know about cannabis. Through a rigorous, multi-round review process, the panel developed six core competencies supported by 26 subcompetencies.
These cover topics including the basics of the endocannabinoid system, cannabis plant components and biological effects, the legal and regulatory landscape, evidence-based uses for managing health conditions, risks associated with cannabis use, and basic principles of clinical management.
“This framework provides an evidence-informed foundation for integrating medical cannabis education into undergraduate medical training,” said Mikhail Kogan, lead researcher of the study and chief medical officer of the Center for Integrative Medicine, and associate professor of medicine at George Washington University.
The researchers conclude that implementing these competencies can help ensure clinicians are prepared to meet growing patient needs while maintaining high standards of safety and professionalism.
The full study, Consensus-Based Core Competencies for Medical Cannabis Education in Undergraduate Medical Training, is available in JAMA Network Open.