Skip to main content

Main menu

  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Health and Economic Impact
    • Research Impact Video
    • Strategic Plan
  • Our Research
    • Research Focus
      • Brain Health
      • Cancer
      • Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence
      • Heart Health
      • Healthy Aging and Mobility
      • Immune System
      • Injury and Rehabilitation
      • Lung Health
      • Mental Health and Substance Use
    • Research Centres and Programs
      • BC Centre on Substance Use
      • Centre for Aging SMART
      • Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation
      • Centre for Lung Health
      • Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute
      • Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
      • Immunity and Infection Research Centre
      • International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries
      • M. H. Mohseni Institute of Urologic Sciences
      • Ovarian Cancer Research Centre
      • Community Research Program
      • Emergency Medicine Research Program
      • Hematology Research Program
      • Skin Research Program
      • Other Research Focus Areas
    • News and Stories
    • Researcher Directory
    • Events and Workshops
  • Research Services
    • New to VCHRI
      • Working at VCHRI
      • Regulations and Training
      • Membership with VCHRI
      • Learning and Development
    • Starting Your Project
      • Research Facilitation
      • Awards and Funding
      • Grant Management
      • Operational Approval
      • CST Cerner
    • Developing Your Project
      • Clinical Trials Administration
      • Clinical Research Unit
      • Research Privacy
      • Financial Policies and Procedures
    • Additional Support
      • Indigenous Health Research Unit
      • VCH-VCHRI AI Hub
      • Communications and Media Relations
      • Study Recruitment Support
      • Innovation and Industry Partnership
    • Internal Awards
    • Clinical Research
    • Indigenous Research
  • Participate in Research
    • Reasons to Participate
    • Participant Stories
    • Find a Study
    • Recruitment Support

User menu

  • Log in

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Our Research
  3. News and Stories
  4. Paging Dr. Dispensary

Paging Dr. Dispensary

Stories Apr 21, 2017 2 minutes

Study investigates the role of cannabis dispensaries in facilitating medicinal cannabis usage.

Compassion clubs and marijuana dispensaries in B.C., in particularly in Vancouver and Victoria, have been at the forefront of the movement to legalize and regulate cannabis in Canada. With such organizations having operated in Vancouver longer than in any other Canadian city, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) clinician scientist Dr. Amrish Joshi wanted to study the relationship between cannabis dispensaries and the patients seeking out cannabis for their health conditions.

“We know that compassion clubs in particular have played a huge role in the lives of patients–they’ve been filling a need for people who really felt like they couldn’t access medications for their chronic illnesses,” explains Dr. Joshi, a VCH palliative physician member of the Richmond Integrated Hospice Palliative Care Team. “Some patients and doctors acknowledge their reliance on the support and knowledge provided by dispensaries and compassion clubs.”

Dr. Joshi is embarking on a study that will survey a minimum of 30 cannabis dispensaries in both Metro Vancouver and Victoria. The survey includes a total of 20 questions that will be analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Dr. Joshi hopes that the responses will expand knowledge around how dispensary staff educate themselves about the medicinal uses of cannabis, what information they pass on to clients, how cannabis providers counsel individuals seeking cannabis for their health conditions, the types of conditions they’re asked to help treat, and the kinds of questions patients ask. 

Dr. Amrish Joshi’s current research hopes to highlight the attitudes and beliefs of medicinal cannabis dispensaries within Metro Vancouver and Victoria, and how they cannot be seen in isolation from the care given by other health care providers.

“At the end of the day this study is about facilitating the care we provide to palliative patients and other patients going to dispensaries. And this is also about the support and education physicians may need when it comes to prescribing medicinal marijuana.”

The study builds on Dr. Joshi’s previous research showing that medicinal and recreational uses of cannabis need to be disentangled when considering evidence based prescribing. 

“Poor education and misinformation has resulted in conflict between societal concerns and best medical treatment. These influences impact how patients may ask for or get access to medicinal cannabis and how physicians support their patients in accessing medicinal cannabis.” 

Dr. Joshi’s previous study was conducted with palliative care patients and palliative care doctors. Findings showed that there was apprehension from both patients and physicians in using medicinal cannabinoids for care, but palliative physicians demonstrated a unique viewpoint—they were able to balance potential conflicts and remain open-minded. 

 

Researchers

Amrish Joshi

Related Articles

Ask an expert: What does it mean for road safety now that marijuana will be legalized?

Ask an expert: I want 2016 to be the year I quit smoking. How can I kick the habit, once and for all?

Share:

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • Email

Related Research Centres/Programs

Community Research Program

Get the latest research headlines in your inbox

Subscribe

Recent News and Stories

Type
Stories

Making space for Indigenous foods in hospital

Jun 9, 2025 indigenous health, care delivery, community engagement
Type
Stories

Shaping the future of health care through research

Jun 7, 2025 innovation
Type
Stories

Behind the lab doors: Breaking barriers with assistive technologies at MATTERS Lab

Jun 6, 2025 lab, mobility, participate
See more news

Get updates!

Join our newsletter mailing list to stay up to date on features and releases.

Subscribe

Quick Links

  • News and Stories
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Media Enquiries

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • X
  • YouTube

© 2025 VCHRI. All rights reserved.

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy