Washington: 24% of cancer patients use cannabis to relieve their symptoms

According to a study published in the Cancer, about a quarter of cancer patients in Washington State use cannabis for medical purposes.

«Cannabis is believed to alleviate pain associated with cancer treatments, although patterns of use among cancer patients »are not well known,« the study excerpt states. »This study was designed to determine the prevalence and methods of cannabis use among cancer patients, the perceived benefits, and the available sources of information in a state that has legalized cannabis.”.

The study surveyed 926 patients with an average age of 58. «Most were very interested in learning more about cannabis during their treatment,» with 74% of those surveyed saying they sought information from healthcare professionals.

66% of the respondents had used cannabis in the past, 24% in the past year, and 21% in the past month. Cannabis users primarily used it to relieve physical symptoms (nausea and pain) or for psychological reasons (stress, depression, or insomnia).

Urine tests of the patients showed that 14% of them had recently used cannabis, consistent with the 18% who had voluntarily reported recent use.

Although all respondents were seeking more information from their doctors, most reported that they were more likely to seek information from sources outside the healthcare system. «Patients people with cancer »They want information about cannabis use but don't necessarily get it from their doctor during treatment, so many seek information from alternative, non-scientific sources," explains Dr. Pergam, the lead researcher on the study.

He emphasizes that cannabis can be dangerous for some patients and cause unwanted side effects. «We hope this study paves the way for further research to assess the risks and benefits of cannabis for this population. This is important because if we don’t educate our patients about cannabis, they will continue to seek information elsewhere.».