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. 2025 Aug 25;10(4):e70244.
doi: 10.1002/lio2.70244. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Characteristics of Cannabis Use Among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Talia A Wenger  1 , Tyler J Gallagher  2 , Niels C Kokot  2
Affiliations

Characteristics of Cannabis Use Among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Talia A Wenger et al. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. .

Abstract

Objective: Understand the characteristics of cannabis use, including frequency, mode, and purpose, among head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed using ResearchMatch and online support groups for survivors of HNC. Respondents answered questions regarding demographics, cancer history, cannabis use, and knowledge of cannabis and completed a Short Form-12 Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression and descriptive statistics were utilized for analysis.

Results: Of 92 respondents, 75% were current or former cannabis users and 25% were never users. Cannabis users were less likely to have above-median household income (OR 0.115, 95% CI 0.0139-0.662) and live outside of the United States (OR 0.0697, 95% CI 0.0026-0.7404) than current or former users. 36.2% and 27.5% of cannabis users reported occasional (1-5 days/month) and daily use, respectively. The most common mode of use was in edible products (46.4%). The most common reasons for use were to treat pain (79.4%), improve sleep (76.5%), cope with stress (64.7%), and recreation (63.6%). 19.2% of respondents reported receiving information regarding cannabis use in relation to cancer. Of those who had received information, the most common sources were a physician treating cancer (38.1%), friends (33.3%), and cancer support groups (33.3%). 45.6% of respondents reported significant or very high interest in receiving information about cannabis use in relation to cancer.

Conclusions: Cannabis use for treatment of cancer-associated symptoms and recreation is common among HNC survivors. Many survivors are interested in information regarding cannabis use, but few have received information from a reputable source.

Level of evidence: Level 4.

Keywords: cannabis; drug use; head and neck cancer; marijuana.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Physical and mental health composite scores for current, former, and never users of cannabis, as measured by Short Form‐12 Questionnaire. Box plot representing the distribution of (A) physical health component score and (B) mental health component score among respondents who are current, former, and never users of cannabis (N = 92). Lower and upper fences are 25th and 75th percentiles with the median in between. Mean is represented by + and whiskers represent the range.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Reasons for cannabis use. Proportion of respondents who are either current or former cannabis users (N = 34) who responded “yes” to each given reason for using cannabis.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Information source regarding cannabis use. Proportion of respondents (N = 21) who responded “yes” to each given information source regarding cannabis use following cancer diagnosis.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Self‐reported Interest in education on cannabis use during/after cancer diagnosis. Proportion of respondents (N = 92) reporting their interest in receiving information regarding cannabis use during and/or after cancer diagnosis according to Likert‐like scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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