As cannabis legalization continues to expand across the U.S., its use among cancer patients has also increased significantly, particularly for managing symptoms like nausea, pain, anxiety and insomnia.
A recent blog entry from Carmen Phillips at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), underscores the growing demand for more robust scientific research on cannabis, especially as more cancer patients turn to it as a form of relief.
Oncologists call attention to the urgent need to reschedule cannabis to facilitate further research and fill “the Cannabis-and-Cancer Information Gap”.
Rising Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients
Recent studies estimate that between 20% to 40% of cancer patients use cannabis or cannabinoids to manage side effects from both the disease and its treatment. With 38 states having legalized medical marijuana, patients are finding it easier than ever to access products.
Dr. Richard T. Lee, who heads the Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology at City of Hope in California, addressed the rising interest. “Patients are highly interested in cannabis to help them deal with cancer's physical and mental fallout.”
As additional states legalize cannabis for medical use, this trend is expected to grow, placing more pressure on healthcare providers to understand the nuances of cannabis use.
While many oncologists acknowledge that their patients are using cannabis, the lack of clinical evidence leaves them ill-prepared to offer concrete guidance. In a recent survey published by the NCI, nearly 40% of oncologists said they were comfortable discussing cannabis with their patients, but only 13% felt knowledgeable enough to provide accurate advice.
Similarly, other studies show that only 20% of patients using cannabis inform their oncologists.
Rescheduling Cannabis To Advance Research
The NCI’s blog post highlights the pressing need for more research, particularly as cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I drug – the same category as heroin. This federal classification restricts large-scale studies, limiting the ability of researchers to fully explore cannabis’s potential therapeutic benefits and risks for cancer patients.
“We absolutely … don't have a good handle on safety,” said Gary Ellison, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the NCI. He explained that the federal restrictions on cannabis make it difficult to conduct comprehensive research, creating gaps in knowledge that leave both patients and providers in the dark. “The potential harms, particularly with immunotherapy, are not fully understood.”
One of the primary concerns among oncologists is how cannabis might interact with standard cancer treatments, particularly immunotherapy, which plays a critical role in treating certain types of cancer.
