Cancer Patients' Experiences with and Perspectives on the Medicinal Cannabis "High"

J Palliat Med. 2022 Sep;25(9):1418-1421. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0119. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Abstract

Background: Patients with cancer employ medicinal cannabis for poly-symptom management and as cancer-directed therapy. Little is known about their perspectives on the medicinal cannabis "high." Methods: Qualitative interviews across eight states with medicinal cannabis users with physician-verified cancer diagnoses (n = 24). Results: Every participant referenced and 15 spoke in depth about the medicinal cannabis "high." Antitheticals characterized it: sleepiness versus heightened attention; calm versus "agitation." The intensity of the "high" served as a proxy metric by which participant's judged medicinal cannabis' cancer-directed therapy and symptom management efficacies. Overall, however, study participants viewed the "high" as a barrier to medicinal cannabis use and worked to avoid experiencing for prolonged periods. Conclusions: The "high" is central to the manner with which patients with cancer experience medicinal cannabis. Clinicians should be aware that patients may struggle to fine-tune medicinal cannabis dosing in the setting of the "high," and this challenge should be included in clinical discussions regarding oncological medicinal cannabis use.

Keywords: cancer; cannabis; complementary and alternative medicine; marijuana; oncology; symptom management.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cannabis*
  • Humans
  • Medical Marijuana* / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Palliative Care

Substances

  • Medical Marijuana