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Cancer patients' experiences with medicinal cannabis–related care
Author(s) -
Braun Ilana M.,
Nayak Manan M.,
Revette Anna,
Wright Alexi A.,
Chai Peter R.,
Yusufov Miryam,
Pirl William F.,
Tulsky James A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.33202
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , cannabis , family medicine , traditional medicine , psychiatry
Background Little is known about medical cannabis (MC)–related care for patients with cancer using MC. Methods Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted in a convenience sample of individuals (n = 24) with physician‐confirmed oncologic diagnoses and state/district authorization to use MC (Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, and Washington, DC) from April 2017 to March 2019. Standard qualitative techniques were used to assess the degree of MC‐related health care oversight, MC practices, and key information sources. Results Among 24 participants (median age, 57 years; range, 30‐71 years; 16 women [67%]), MC certifications were typically issued by a professional new to a patient's care after a brief, perfunctory consultation. Patients disclosed MCuse to their established medical teams but received little medical advice about whether and how to use MC. Patients with cancer used MC products as multipurpose symptom management and as cancer‐directed therapy, sometimes in lieu of standard‐of‐care treatments. Personal experimentation, including methodical self‐monitoring, was an important source of MC know‐how. Absent formal advice from medical professionals, patients relied on nonmedical sources for MC information. Conclusions Patients with cancer used MC with minimal medical oversight. Most received MC certifications through brief meetings with unfamiliar professionals. Participants desired but were often unable to access high‐quality clinical information about MC from their established medical teams. Because many patients are committed to using MC, a product sustained by a growing industry, medical providers should familiarize themselves with the existing data for MM and its limitations to address a poorly met clinical need.