As the scope of legal cannabis use expands, experts say that cancer patients in the United States are still far less likely to use cannabis than the general population.
This is the key finding of a new study based on data on smoking habits (including tobacco and marijuana) collected from nearly 20,000 people between 2013 and 2018. During this period, several states in the United States legalized recreational marijuana.
According to the results of the study published in the journal on August 13, during this period, it was reported that 9% of cancer patients used cannabis, compared with 14% of people without a history of cancer. cancer.
Lead author Bernard Fuemmeler said: “Even if we studied whether someone had used marijuana during four years of observation and controlled for factors such as age and race, cancer patients still did not follow the same pattern as the general population. The use of marijuana has increased over time.” He is the interim co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Project at the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
“I thought they could at least reflect what is happening in the general population,” Fuemmeler said at a university press conference.
Co-author Sunny Jung Kim said that due to changes in law enforcement, the attitudes of cannabis and the perceived benefits and harms will change.
Kim, assistant professor of health behavior and policy at the VCU School of Medicine, said: “This work has given us an understanding of the prevalence of cannabis use among cancer patients and how it has changed over time.”
According to the American Cancer Society, some small studies have shown that pot helps relieve nausea and pain caused by chemotherapy.
So why don’t more cancer patients take advantage of more liberal laws?
Fuemmeler said: “When you get cancer, your life will change.” “You have to pay attention to your health and consider whether things like marijuana are useful or harmful.”
The study also found that among cancer patients and others, those who reported higher levels of pain were more likely to smoke marijuana. Women, the elderly, and people with higher incomes, medical insurance or better mental health have lower usage rates.
The authors say that more research is needed on the health effects of cannabis use by cancer patients and survivors so that doctors and patients can have an informed discussion about its potential benefits and risks.