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Multicenter Study
. 2024 Aug 15;2024(66):202-217.
doi: 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgae029.

Perceptions, prevalence, and patterns of cannabis use among cancer patients treated at 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers

Gary L Ellison  1 , Kathy J Helzlsouer  1 , Sonia M Rosenfield  1 , Yun Kim  2 , Rebecca L Ashare  3   4 , Anne H Blaes  5 , Jennifer Cullen  6   7 , Neal Doran  8   9   10 , Jon O Ebbert  11 , Kathleen M Egan  12 , Jaimee L Heffner  13 , Richard T Lee  6   14 , Erin A McClure  15   16 , Corinne McDaniels-Davidson  8   17 , Salimah H Meghani  3   18 , Polly A Newcomb  13 , Shannon Nugent  19   20 , Nicholas Hernandez-Ortega  21   22 , Talya Salz  23 , Denise C Vidot  21   22 , Brooke Worster  24 , Dylan M Zylla  25
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Perceptions, prevalence, and patterns of cannabis use among cancer patients treated at 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers

Gary L Ellison et al. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: The legal climate for cannabis use has dramatically changed with an increasing number of states passing legislation legalizing access for medical and recreational use. Among cancer patients, cannabis is often used to ameliorate adverse effects of cancer treatment. Data are limited on the extent and type of use among cancer patients during treatment and the perceived benefits and harms. This multicenter survey was conducted to assess the use of cannabis among cancer patients residing in states with varied legal access to cannabis.

Methods: A total of 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, across states with varied cannabis-access legal status, conducted surveys with a core questionnaire to assess cannabis use among recently diagnosed cancer patients. Data were collected between September 2021 and August 2023 and pooled across 12 cancer centers. Frequencies and 95% confidence intervals for core survey measures were calculated, and weighted estimates are presented for the 10 sites that drew probability samples.

Results: Overall reported cannabis use since cancer diagnosis among survey respondents was 32.9% (weighted), which varied slightly by state legalization status. The most common perceived benefits of use were for pain, sleep, stress and anxiety, and treatment side effects. Reported perceived risks were less common and included inability to drive, difficulty concentrating, lung damage, addiction, and impact on employment. A majority reported feeling comfortable speaking to health-care providers though, overall, only 21.5% reported having done so. Among those who used cannabis since diagnosis, the most common modes were eating in food, smoking, and pills or tinctures, and the most common reasons were for sleep disturbance, followed by pain and stress and anxiety with 60%-68% reporting improved symptoms with use.

Conclusion: This geographically diverse survey demonstrates that patients use cannabis regardless of its legal status. Addressing knowledge gaps concerning benefits and harms of cannabis use during cancer treatment is critical to enhance patient-provider communication.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr Jon O. Ebbert has consulting agreements with K Health, Exact Sciences, and MedinCell and serves on the scientific advisory board for Applied Aerosol Technologies, which are not related to the current work.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of NCI-Designated Cancer Center sites and state legalization status (2023). NCI = National Cancer Institute; OSHU = Oregon Health and Science University.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Perceived benefits of cannabis use among cancer patients (n = 12 614; 10 sites).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Perceived risks of cannabis use among cancer patients (n = 12 614; 10 sites).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mode of cannabis used most often by state cannabis policy.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Reasons for use among cancer patients who used cannabis since diagnosis (n = 4163).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Reasons for using cannabis since diagnosis by most common modes of use (n = 4163).
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Perceived impact on symptoms among cancer patients who used cannabis since diagnosis of cancer (n = 4163).
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References

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