Cannabis-Related Content in North American Post-Secondary Curricula: A Scoping Review

Background: On August 11, 2016, the Canadian government announced the new Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) outlining reasonable cannabis use for medical purposes. Educators teaching cannabis-related content face challenges as the new legalization requires a shift away from a focus on substance abuse towards incorporating economic, social, and health promotion aspects. Objectives: To provide a report on what curricula incorporating the concept of cannabis are offered by post-secondary institutions as well as how and for what purpose 􀀕is content is offered. Method: A scoping review of published and grey literature was conducted to determine the extent of the available research and grey literature related to the concept of cannabis in post­secondary curricula in North America. Online search engines and multiple databases were used. Results: Peer-reviewed nursing articles emphasize teaching cannabis in terms of substance abuse treatment rather than knowledge about medical cannabis. Within English-speaking Canadian universities/colleges that have a nursing school, many cannabis-related courses are being developed. These include different disciplines such as pharmacology, agriculture, and marketing and are delivered in the format of courses, workshops/seminars, and public presentations in classroom or online. Conclusion: This study suggested that a limited number of courses about medical cannabis are being offered in post-secondary institutions in North America. As legislation changes continue to impact post secondary education, curricula must be adapted to meet the new requirements.