Cancer patients who seek medical cannabis use it differently than other patients | Research

The takeaway

Cancer patients seeking medical cannabis certification used less cannabis, less frequently, and were less likely to smoke it compared to non-cancer patients.

Oncology researchers, medical cannabis policy makers, patients with cancer considering medical cannabis

80% vs. 91% smoked cannabis (cancer vs. non-cancer patients)

What the researchers found

Among 1,485 adults pursuing medical cannabis certification in Michigan, 72 cancer patients used less cannabis and used it less often than the 1,413 non-cancer patients. Cancer patients were also less likely to smoke cannabis (80% vs. 91%) and showed a trend toward more edible use (57% vs. 44%).

Why it matters

Cancer patients have driven much of the policy discussion around medical cannabis legalization, yet their actual patterns of use remain poorly characterized. This study shows they are a distinct population with different usage behaviors compared to the broader medical cannabis patient pool.

The numbers in context

1,485 adults surveyed; 72 (4.8%) had cancer; cancer patients were older (mean 53.4 vs. 44.7 years); more were disabled (44.4% vs. 26.5%); fewer smoked cannabis (80% vs. 91%, p=0.015); lower quantity (p=0.033) and frequency (p=0.032) of use

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey of patients seeking medical cannabis certification at Michigan dispensaries. Compared demographics, employment, pain, mental health, and cannabis use patterns between those with and without cancer diagnosis using chi-square and t-tests.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional design at a single time point. Only patients seeking certification were included, which may not represent all cancer patients using cannabis. Self-reported data with potential recall bias. Small cancer subgroup (n=72).

How to read the evidence

Cross-sectional survey with a reasonable sample size but a small cancer subgroup and self-reported measures.

When this study was published

Published in 2021 using data from Michigan dispensaries.

The bigger picture

Understanding how cancer patients use medical cannabis differently could inform tailored dosing guidance, product development, and policy decisions specific to oncology populations rather than applying one-size-fits-all frameworks.

Questions still open

Why do cancer patients use less cannabis than non-cancer medical users? Do the different consumption patterns reflect different symptom profiles or different relationships with the substance?

Common questions

How did cancer patients differ in their cannabis use?

They used less cannabis, less frequently, and were less likely to smoke it. There was also a trend toward greater edible use (57% vs. 44%), though this did not reach statistical significance.

Were cancer patients different demographically?

Yes. They were older on average (53.4 vs. 44.7 years) and more likely to be disabled (44.4% vs. 26.5%) compared to non-cancer patients seeking medical cannabis.

Read the original research

Differences between cancer patients and others who use medicinal Cannabis.

PloS one, 16(3), e0248227

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Cousins, Matthew M; Jannausch, Mary; Jagsi, Reshma; Ilgen, Mark. (2021). Differences between cancer patients and others who use medicinal Cannabis.. PloS one, 16(3), e0248227. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248227