Medical Student Use of Marijuana, Alcohol, and Cigarettes: A Study of Four Schools

Abstract

Four medical schools of different geographical regions were surveyed with regard to students' past, present, and projected use of marijuana. Results show that experience with marijuana varies from 17 to 70% of students. Use of marijuana is highly correlated with the school a student attends, his use of cigarettes, and the amount of alcohol he drinks. More students can be expected to use marijuana if legal sanctions are relaxed or if research reveals marijuana to be no more toxic than alcohol. No such increase is predicted if marijuana is found to be comparable to cigarettes in long-term effects. In view of the gap between medical student practice and medicine's official position on marijuana, the authors urge that the medical community discuss the subject of marijuana use openly, focusing particularly on how cannabis affects our health and that of our patients.