Knowledge and attitudes toward medical cannabis among medicine, nursing, and physiotherapy students at a Colombian university: a cross-sectional study with multivariate analysis

Abstract Background Medical cannabis has gained increasing recognition for its therapeutic potential in various clinical conditions. However, knowledge and attitudes toward its medical use among future health professionals in Colombia remain limited and insufficiently investigated. Objective To assess the levels of knowledge and attitudes regarding medical cannabis among Medicine, Nursing, and Physiotherapy students at a private Colombian university, identify sociodemographic predictors of higher knowledge and favorable attitudes. The findings are then discussed in the context of national and international public health and regulatory frameworks, highlighting potential areas for educational consideration. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 658 undergraduate students selected through simple random sampling stratified by academic program and semester, using official enrollment lists as the sampling frame. A validated questionnaire assessed sociodemographics, knowledge, and attitudes. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression identified predictors of higher knowledge and favorable attitudes (p < 0.05; 95% CI). Public health implications were analyzed in relation to WHO, PAHO, and UNODC recommendations, as well as Colombian health and education policy. Results Overall, 63% reported moderate to substantial knowledge, though significant gaps persisted: 69% demonstrated low self-perceived knowledge regarding therapeutic dosage, 92% lacked awareness of legal regulations, and 60% showed insufficient knowledge about pharmaceutical forms. Attitudes toward the medical use of cannabis were predominantly favorable: 75% supported expanded legalization and 89% endorsed academic training. Multivariate analysis showed that being a medical student (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.9–4.3) and being in advanced semesters (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.5) predicted higher knowledge. Favorable attitudes were predicted by higher knowledge (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 2.3–5.0) and clinical rotation experience (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3–2.8). Conclusions Results suggest that incorporating medical cannabis education into health curricula may be beneficial, although additional studies are needed to confirm this recommendation in broader contexts.