Survey of terminally ill medical cannabis patients finds cannabis may serve as an alternative to hospice care
Among 342 terminally ill medical cannabis patients in Illinois, very few were enrolled in hospice, with cancer patients and those who fast-tracked their cannabis application less likely to enroll, suggesting cannabis may operate as an alternative to formal end-of-life care.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Only 19 of 342 terminal patients were enrolled in hospice, with 323 planning enrollment. Cancer patients (OR 0.21) and those who used the fast-track cannabis application (OR 0.11) were significantly less likely to be in hospice. The findings suggest cannabis use may function as an alternative to hospice and palliative care rather than complementing it.
Key Numbers
342 terminal patients; only 19 enrolled in hospice; cancer patients OR=0.21 for hospice enrollment; fast-track applicants OR=0.11 for hospice enrollment.
How They Did This
Anonymous cross-sectional survey of 342 terminal patients enrolled in the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program. Logistic regression compared hospice enrollment, palliative care use, and standard care by patient characteristics.
Why This Research Matters
If terminally ill patients are choosing cannabis over hospice care, they may miss out on comprehensive symptom management, psychosocial support, and end-of-life planning that hospice provides.
The Bigger Picture
The intersection of medical cannabis and end-of-life care is an emerging area where patient choices, limited evidence, and complex healthcare systems converge, with potential for both benefit and missed care opportunities.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation. Small hospice-enrolled group (n=19). Self-selected sample. No data on symptom management outcomes. Illinois-specific program structure may not generalize.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are cannabis-using terminal patients getting adequate symptom management?
- ?Would integrating cannabis into hospice programs improve uptake?
- ?Do clinicians discuss both cannabis and hospice options?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Only 5.6% of terminal cannabis patients were enrolled in hospice
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional survey with small hospice subgroup, but novel focus on cannabis-hospice intersection.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022 with Illinois Medical Cannabis Program data.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis and End-of-Life Care: A Snapshot of Hospice Planning and Experiences Among Illinois Medical Cannabis Patients With A Terminal Diagnosis.
- Published In:
- The American journal of hospice & palliative care, 39(3), 345-352 (2022)
- Authors:
- Croker, James Alton, Bobitt, Julie(8), Sanders, Sara, Arora, Kanika, Mueller, Keith, Kaskie, Brian
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03775
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do terminally ill cannabis patients use hospice?
In this study, very few did. Only 19 of 342 terminal patients were enrolled in hospice, and cancer patients and those who fast-tracked their cannabis applications were significantly less likely to enroll.
Is medical cannabis a substitute for end-of-life care?
The researchers suggest cannabis may operate as an alternative to hospice and palliative care, but note that clinicians should discuss both options to ensure patients receive comprehensive end-of-life support.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03775APA
Croker, James Alton; Bobitt, Julie; Sanders, Sara; Arora, Kanika; Mueller, Keith; Kaskie, Brian. (2022). Cannabis and End-of-Life Care: A Snapshot of Hospice Planning and Experiences Among Illinois Medical Cannabis Patients With A Terminal Diagnosis.. The American journal of hospice & palliative care, 39(3), 345-352. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211018655
MLA
Croker, James Alton, et al. "Cannabis and End-of-Life Care: A Snapshot of Hospice Planning and Experiences Among Illinois Medical Cannabis Patients With A Terminal Diagnosis.." The American journal of hospice & palliative care, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211018655
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis and End-of-Life Care: A Snapshot of Hospice Plannin..." RTHC-03775. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/croker-2022-cannabis-and-endoflife-care
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.