How to use the Clinical Primer on Cannabis
The Clinical Primer on Cannabis has nine modules – containing an article, audio, the guidance text and a quiz
Navigating the modules is straightforward.
The article and audio offer a summary. The fully referenced text provides an in-depth understanding. And you can test your knowledge with the clinical quiz – did you miss something?
The Peer Insights module provides insights from experienced peers across the globe who prescribe, dispense, and administer cannabis-based medicines.
Finally, the clinical evaluation tools, medicine interaction tables, and the reference module is your prompt to ongoing, independent learning.
Using the reader and module buttons
The PDF navigation icons across the top of the text page allow for full screen viewing, to zoom and to scroll the text. Articles, audio or quiz are push buttons for access to extra content.
About the authors and editor
Author
Dr Jürgen Fleisch
Dr Jürgen Fleisch (MD, PhD) undertook a fellowship in pain medicine in Portland, USA. Since 2007 he has practised anaesthesiology and pain therapy at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), the Netherlands. LUMC is an ESMO – a Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care. Jürgen’s close cooperation with the Department of Oncology means that he regularly treats pain and related symptoms in cancer patients using classic medications and interventional pain treatments. He has considerable experience prescribing cannabis-based medicines.
Author
Martin Woodbridge
Martin Woodbridge (MPHC, DPH) trained and lectured at the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine, and worked for Medsafe, the medicines safety authority. In 2007, he wrote New Zealand’s regulatory policy and clinical guidelines on the medicinal use of cannabis for the Ministry of Health. Since then, he has advised on programmes in Oceania and Asia and for the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board’s regulatory guidance on cannabis intended for medical and scientific use. He is the author of the complimentary text ‘A primer to medicinal cannabis’. Martin has worked with Carl and Jürgen on different projects relating to the rational use of medicines.
Editor
Professor emeritus Dr Carl Burgess
Professor emeritus Dr Carl Burgess (MB ChB, MD, MRCP, FRACP, FRCP) is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Pharmacology. He taught internal medicine and clinical pharmacology from 1982 to 2013 at the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine, while also a consultant hospital physician to Capital and Coast Health, New Zealand. Carl has been involved in clinical pharmacology research since 1976. He provides deep knowledge of clinical pharmacology and the rational use of medicines, having investigated the clinical use of anti-depressives, anti-arrhythmic agents, anti-thrombotics, and bronchodilators, among other medicine classes. Carl is a previous member of the Standing Committee on Therapeutic Trials (SCOTT), which undertakes the scientific assessment of clinical trial applications for new pharmaceutical-type medicines.
Acknowledgements
The Clinical Primer on Cannabis is also the result of the contribution of several healthcare professionals from around the world, who agreed to share their experience with prescribing, handling and working with cannabis-based medicines for patients with different conditions.
Disclaimer
This guide reflects published data, information and clinical insights as at the year 2025. It considers the rational use of cannabis-based medicines within a prescriber-pharmacy model of care.
While all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and scientific nature of information at the time of its production, the authors make no representations, implied or otherwise, as to the safety and efficacy of cannabis-based medicines and the methods of administration until such time that reliable clinical data is provided, nor to the contents of this text as certain information may have become outdated due to the rapid scientific and clinical developments in this field.
Neither the authors nor the publisher accepts liability for any damage that may result from the use of the information contained in this text, nor do they give any guarantees regarding the nature and the contents thereof. The author does not accept any liability for damage of any kind, caused by third party content attached to, written or printed.
Disclosure
The Clinical Primer is produced by Woodbridge Research Ltd. This is a free-to-access educational resource funded under the policy of education without commercial bias. This project was made possible with funding provided by Bedrocan International.
Copyright
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including printing, without the prior written consent of the producer. Woodbridge Research Ltd. Copyright © 2025.
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