The knowledge and attitude of pharmacists regarding the therapeutic use of cannabinoid-based medications in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The global use of cannabinoid-based medications is expanding due to increasing evidence supporting their therapeutic potential. However, in Saudi Arabia, their adoption is influenced by cultural and regulatory factors. Pharmacists play a pivotal role in guiding the safe use of these therapies. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of hospital pharmacists in Jeddah regarding Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cannabinoid medications, identify knowledge gaps, and recommend educational strategies. A descriptive, cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among pharmacists from 6 randomly selected government hospitals in Jeddah, recruited through convenience-based sampling. A validated questionnaire captured demographics, knowledge of pharmacology, indications, adverse effects, interactions, and contraindications, as well as attitudes using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance were applied. Of 143 respondents (49.7% male, 50.3% female), most were younger than 35 years and had 6 to 15 years of experience. Attitudes were generally moderate, with 62.3% rating the usefulness of cannabinoid therapies as moderate or high. Knowledge of adverse effects (73%), drug interactions (92%), and contraindications (88%) was stronger than recognition of FDA-approved indications (42%). A gender-related difference was noted in perceived adequacy of undergraduate preparation, with females reporting lower satisfaction (P = .033), though this should be considered exploratory. No other demographic factors showed significant associations. Pharmacists demonstrated moderate support for cannabinoid-based therapies and strong awareness of risks but limited recognition of approved uses. Integrated curricula, continuing professional development, and national guidelines are needed to address these gaps. Findings should be interpreted with caution, as the study was limited to public-sector hospital pharmacists.