Department of Medicine

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(SEPTEMBER 14, 2023) A recent study on medicinal cannabis use and reporting shows results that are consistent with previous work by Larner researchers Nicole Wershoven, Amanda Kennedy, Pharm.D., professor of medicine, and Charles MacLean, M.D., professor of medicine, published in 2020 in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, according to Cannabis News World.

Nearly a third of cancer patients used cannabis to treat their symptoms in a recent study conducted by researchers affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. The study, published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Supportive Care in Cancer, also found that only 25 percent of those using cannabis to treat their symptoms discussed such use with their health care providers, a finding that’s consistent with previous research that showed patients are reluctant to discuss their use of medical marijuana with their doctors. Noting the prevalence of cannabis use among cancer patients, the authors of the study recommended that oncologists prepare themselves to have frank discussions about the potential harms and benefits of cannabis with their patients.