You have requested access to member only content.

Talking to patients about cannabis

Do providers need to know if their patients use cannabis? Yes.

There are many ramifications of cannabis use on patient care, including potential interaction with anesthesia or other medicines. Patients should disclose cannabis to their providers, especially before any surgery or medical procedure.

Do patients always tell their providers about their cannabis use? No.

Many patients omit information or lie about their cannabis habits for fear of being reported to law enforcement. Or they might be confused by the screening questions. Or they may want to avoid the stigma that often comes with cannabis use.

Medical and recreational cannabis use is on the rise, as is the number of states legalizing it. To provide high-quality care providers need to know if their patients use cannabis, regardless of the provider’s personal opinions on the substance.

This is an excerpt from members-only content. Please log in or become a member to access the full content.

Not a member? Let's fix that!

A membership to Accreditation and Quality Compliance Center provides accreditation and safety professionals with a collection of continuously updated tools, best-practice strategies, and compliance tips developed by industry experts. With two membership options, you can customize your access level depending on your education and training needs.

Register to access the free content available on the site or become a member today. Click here for more information.

For questions and support, please call customer service: 800-650-6787.