How to talk to your doctor about CBD and cannabis - how to prepare for your visit

A study conducted among doctors in the USA found that 85% of them feel uncomfortable discussing cannabinoids - indicating a lack of sufficient medical education in this area (Philpot et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2019). This does not mean that conversations are not worth attempting - it means that it is important to prepare thoroughly for them. This article provides you with a specific script and a list of questions that will turn an uncertain conversation into a factual consultation about interactions, dosages, and therapeutic goals.

KEY INFORMATION
• 85% of doctors in the USA feel discomfort discussing cannabinoids due to educational gaps (Philpot et al., 2019).
• A list of all medications and the product's CoA certificate are two key documents for your visit.
• A description of effects in numbers (scales, frequency) is more useful than subjective impressions.
• A doctor cannot legally prohibit the use of CBD, but their assessment of interactions is medically valuable.
• A pharmacist can independently assess CBD interactions with medications - this is a free service available in pharmacies.

Why do many people hesitate to tell their doctor about CBD?

Concerns are understandable and well-documented. Some patients fear evaluation or being 'marked' as cannabis users. Some assume that the doctor will dismiss the topic or will not have knowledge. Some simply do not know how to start. A study published in Journal of General Internal Medicine found that only 38% of patients using CBD or medical cannabis informed their primary care physician about it - even though 74% considered it important (Philpot et al., 2019).

Meanwhile, withholding this information can be dangerous. CBD interacts with dozens of prescription medications by inhibiting CYP450 enzymes. A doctor who is unaware of CBD may misinterpret laboratory results, blood pressure changes, or unexpected treatment effects. Transparency in the doctor's office primarily protects you.

We have noticed that patients who come with a prepared list of medications and a CoA certificate for the product receive a much better response than those who mention CBD 'in passing'. Specific information is perceived as a responsible attitude - not as provocation.

What to bring to your visit - checklist

Preparing documents takes 15 minutes, but it can change the quality of the entire conversation. Here’s a list of things to have:

• A list of all medications, supplements, and herbs with names, dosages, and frequency of use. Include sleep pills, vitamins, and herbal preparations - all of these can interact.
• CBD product - label or CoA (Certificate of Analysis) from an independent laboratory. The CoA confirms the actual CBD content and absence of contaminants.
• A note with 3 specific goals: what you want to improve with CBD (e.g., sleep quality, pain intensity, anxiety level). Each goal should be described in numbers or on a scale.
• Description of previous effects - if you are already using CBD: when you started, what dosage, what you observed.
• A list of questions for the doctor (examples below).

How to start the conversation - specific script

The first sentence sets the tone for the entire conversation. Here are a few tried-and-true formulas:

‘I have been using CBD oil for a few weeks at a dose of about 20 mg and I wanted to check if there are any interactions with my medications. I have the product certificate and a list of medications with me.’

‘I am considering adding CBD oil as a supplement to my therapy. I would like your assessment of potential interactions before I start using it.’

‘I have read about CBD in the context of sleep problems and chronic pain. I wanted to discuss whether this is something that can be safely added to my current treatment.’

Key elements of a good opening: specificity (dosage, product, duration of use), initiative regarding safety (interactions), and openness to the doctor's assessment. Avoid phrases suggesting that CBD will replace treatment - this immediately puts the doctor on the defensive.

What questions to ask the doctor?

Good questions are those that the doctor can answer based on medical knowledge - not philosophy or beliefs. Ask about mechanisms, not opinions.

Questions about interactions: ‘Can CBD interact with the medications I am taking - especially with warfarin or statins? Through which enzymes?’ - This is a pharmacological question. A good doctor or pharmacist can check interactions in a system or drug database.

Questions about monitoring: ‘If I wanted to use CBD, what parameters should I monitor - blood tests, blood pressure, others?’ - This is a practical question. The doctor can suggest a specific monitoring scheme.

Questions about dosing: ‘Is there a dose I should start with, considering my medications and health condition?’ - The doctor may not know the answer, but the question shows your responsibility.

Citation capsule (Philpot et al., 2019): Only 38% of patients using CBD or cannabis informed their doctor about it, even though 74% considered it important. The authors indicate that educational gaps among doctors and patients' fear of stigma create a communication barrier that directly threatens the safety of pharmacotherapy (Philpot et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2019).

What to do if the doctor doesn't want to talk?

Some doctors - especially older generations - react defensively to the word ‘cannabis’. This is less often due to ill will and more often due to a lack of training. If the doctor dismisses the topic without substantive justification, you have several options.

Option 1: pharmacist. Pharmacists are often better prepared to assess drug interactions than primary care physicians. A pharmacy with access to the SOLVATIO system or similar can check if CBD interacts with your medications. This is a free service and available without a referral.

Option 2: a doctor with experience in cannabinoid medicine. In Poland, the number of doctors who have completed training in medical cannabinoids or have experience with patients using CBD is increasing. Portals like Medycyna Konopi allow you to find such specialists.

Option 3: self-verification through interaction databases. The database Drugs.com and Medscape Interaction Checker tools allow you to check CBD interactions with specific medications. This does not replace consultation but provides a starting point for discussion.

After the visit - how to document the conversation with the doctor?

A conversation with a doctor about CBD should end not only with an oral response but also with a document or at least a note. When you return home, write down what the doctor said about interactions, what monitoring they suggested, and whether they expressed consent or reservations. This note is useful for subsequent visits - especially when changing doctors or seeing a specialist who is not familiar with your history.

If the doctor suggested specific monitoring tests (e.g., INR with warfarin, liver function tests with long-term supplementation), note their dates and results. This turns subjective observations of CBD effects into measurable data. A doctor who sees results before and after starting CBD at the next visit can assess the justification for continuation much more accurately.

Some patients keep a simple text file or health app where they note the CBD dosage, date, and current test results. The Realm of Caring Foundation provides a dedicated form for caregivers and patients - free to download. Even minimal documentation is better than none.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the doctor forbid me from using CBD?

The doctor does not have legal instruments to prohibit the use of CBD - it is a supplement legally available in Poland. However, they may express medical reservations and recommend caution or discontinuation in certain situations, e.g., before surgery or with specific medications. Their opinion is advisory, but ignoring it poses health risks.

What to bring to the appointment if I want to talk about CBD?

Prepare: a list of all medications and supplements with dosages, CBD product with a label or CoA certificate, a note with specific symptoms, and questions about interactions. The Realm of Caring Foundation recommends describing 3 specific therapeutic goals - this gives structure to the conversation (Realm of Caring Foundation, 2021).

What to do when the doctor refuses to talk about CBD?

You can consult a pharmacist for an interaction assessment - this is a free service available at many pharmacies. You can also look for a doctor with experience in cannabinoid medicine or use interaction checking tools like Drugs.com Interaction Checker.

How to describe the effects of CBD to a doctor using medical language?

Instead of saying 'CBD helps me', describe specific parameters: 'Before CBD, I woke up 4 times at night, now 1-2 times', 'I rate my pain as 6/10 without CBD and 3/10 with regular use'. Numbers and scales are the language of medicine. A doctor can assess such data much more effectively than subjective impressions.

Does a primary care physician know enough about CBD?

Not necessarily. A study showed that 85% of doctors in the USA feel uncomfortable discussing cannabinoids due to educational gaps (Philpot et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2019). If your doctor lacks knowledge, a pharmacist or a doctor trained in cannabinoid medicine may be a better conversational partner on this topic.

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Author: Michał Waluk · Published: 2026-05-04 · Updated: 2026-05-04