How cancer patients use cannabis during active treatment | Research

The takeaway

Among cancer patients at an NCI cancer center, 41% used cannabis during active treatment, with depression/mood and pain as top reasons, and nearly half of those users consumed cannabis daily.

Cancer patients considering cannabis, oncologists, integrative medicine providers

41% used cannabis during treatment

What the researchers found

41% of surveyed cancer patients used cannabis during active treatment. Among active users, 71.8% started before diagnosis. Stage 4 patients had higher use (60%). Top reasons during treatment: depression/mood, pain, enjoyment. 44.3% used at least daily. Most common cannabinoids: CBD (35.2%), Delta-8-THC (18.3%), CBD+THC ratio (14.1%). 12.7% were unsure what they consumed.

Why it matters

A significant portion of cancer patients use cannabis during treatment, often without clinician guidance. The finding that 12.7% did not know what cannabinoid they consumed highlights a safety gap.

The numbers in context

385 patients (mean age 49.5, 53% male, 41.6% Hispanic/Latino). 41% used during treatment. 71.8% of treatment users started before diagnosis. Stage 4 use: 60%. Daily use: 44.3%. Unsure of cannabinoid content: 12.7%.

How the study worked

Survey of 385 adult cancer patients at an NCI-designated cancer center using a harmonized survey created with 11 other NCI centers. Cannabis use patterns, sources, and reasons compared between active treatment users and non-users.

What this study cannot tell us

Single-center survey from an NCI center with high Hispanic/Latino representation may not generalize. Self-reported data. Cannot assess whether cannabis affected treatment outcomes. Cross-sectional design.

How to read the evidence

NCI-center survey with harmonized instrument provides consistent measurement, but single-center and cross-sectional design limits generalizability.

When this study was published

2024 survey from an NCI-designated cancer center

The bigger picture

The high prevalence of cannabis use during cancer treatment, combined with lack of knowledge about specific products being consumed, points to a need for oncology teams to proactively discuss cannabis with patients and provide guidance on safe use.

Questions still open

Does cannabis use during chemotherapy affect treatment efficacy or drug interactions? Should oncology intake forms routinely screen for cannabis use and specific products?

Common questions

How many cancer patients use cannabis during treatment?

In this study, 41% of surveyed patients used cannabis during active treatment. Nearly half of those used it daily, and the majority had started using cannabis before their cancer diagnosis.

Do patients know what cannabis products they are using?

Not always. 12.7% of patients using cannabis during treatment were unsure what cannabinoid they were consuming, and products varied widely from CBD to Delta-8-THC to combination products.

Read the original research

Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: Findings From a Study at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.

Cancer medicine, 13(21), e70384

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Baral, Amrit; Diggs, Bria-Necole A; Marrakchi El Fellah, Ranya; McCarley, Connor; Penedo, Frank; Martinez, Claudia; Vidot, Denise C. (2024). Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: Findings From a Study at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.. Cancer medicine, 13(21), e70384. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70384