Demographics

A total of 236 responses were received, for a response rate of 37%. Survey respondents’ demographic information is summarized in Table 1. The demographic profile of our sample was generally similar to that of the entire student body, as reflected in archival data provided by the institution. There were no clear differences in response rate by gender (52% vs. 48% male survey respondents vs. institutional enrollment, respectively). Since age was assessed categorically in our survey (to preserve confidentiality), it is not possible to definitively determine whether our sample and the general student population differed by age, but our sample may have been slightly younger than the student population as a whole. The average age for a student during that time frame (across years and accounting for different class sizes) was 30 years, suggesting that the average student at the school was older than approximately 80% of our respondents at the time the study was conducted.

Table 1 Demographics of Survey Respondents Full size table

Student Beliefs About Medical Aspects of Marijuana

Students generally believed that marijuana could play a role in the treatment of the indications approved in the Colorado MMJ program as of 2016 (Fig. 1). When asked specifically, only a minority of respondents expressed belief that marijuana possessed significant benefits to physical health (49%) and mental health (37%), and a majority expressed concern that marijuana could cause physical and mental harm (68% and 77%, respectively). A majority also indicated a belief that marijuana could be addictive (88%; Table 2).

Figure 1 Indications for which medical students believe marijuana can play in a role in medical treatment. These are the eight approved conditions for which physicians can formally recommend marijuana in the State of Colorado. Full size image

Table 2 Properties of Six Subscales Related to Marijuana Beliefs of Medical Students Full size table

The overall acceptability of MMJ for treatment of medical conditions did not differ according to age group or gender. Acceptability of MMJ for treatment was related to whether students had lived in Colorado prior to medical school (t(212) = 2.73, p < 0.001), with those who had not lived in Colorado (n = 59, M = 35.8/48) scoring MMJ as marginally more acceptable than students who lived in Colorado before starting school (n = 155, M = 32.1/48). However, students who reported any previous marijuana use (n = 127, M = 35.8/48) believed MMJ to be more acceptable than those who had never used marijuana (n = 84, M = 28.8/48; p < 0.001). General levels of belief that marijuana holds medical benefits and risk did not differ according to students’ gender, age, or whether they had lived in Colorado prior to medical school. When compared to students who had reported never using marijuana, students who had used marijuana reported a greater belief in medical benefits (n = 137, M = 17.44/30 to n = 90, M = 14.38/30; p < 0.001) and a lower belief in medical risks associated with marijuana use (M = 12.56/18 to M = 13.81/18; p < 0.001; Table 3).

Table 3 Demographic Associations with Marijuana Beliefs Full size table

Student Opinions on Marijuana Policy

Of the students surveyed, 64% expressed the belief that marijuana should be legalized for recreational use, with 72% supporting reclassification of marijuana so that it is no longer a Schedule I substance. Broad support for marijuana legal reform was variable (ranging from 3–18 on a scale of 18; Table 2), and was not associated with age, gender, or having lived in Colorado prior to school. Support for legal changes was related to whether the person had used marijuana (n = 138, M = 13.9) compared to those who had not used marijuana (n = 91, M = 10.8; Table 3).

Students also strongly supported eliminating legal/criminal penalties or disciplinary action against the medical licenses of physicians who recommend marijuana to patients (94% and 88%, respectively; Table 2). Differences in support for these adverse consequences for physicians also did not differ according to gender, age, or whether students lived in Colorado prior to medical school, but did according to whether students had used marijuana in the past (n = 137, M = 3.68/12 for those who had; n = 92, M = 4.89 for those who had not; Table 3). However, only a minority would recommend marijuana to a patient under current law (29%), or if it were legally available (45%; Table 2).