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Stigma, risks, and benefits of medicinal cannabis use among Australians with cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

People with cancer who use medicinal cannabis do so despite risks associated with limited clinical evidence, legalities, and stigma. This study investigated how Australians with cancer rationalise their medicinal cannabis use despite its risks.

Methods

Ten adults (5 males and 5 females; mean age of 53.3) who used cannabis medicinally for their cancer were interviewed in 2021–2022 about how they used and accessed the substance, attitudes and beliefs underpinning their use, and conversations with others about medicinal cannabis.

Results

Participants had cancer of the bowel, skin, oesophagus, stomach, thyroid, breast, and Hodgkin lymphoma for which they were receiving treatment (n = 5) or under surveillance (n = 5), with most (n = 6) encountering metastatic disease. Cannabis was used to treat a variety of cancer-related symptoms such as pain, poor sleep, and low mood. Cannabis was perceived as natural and thus less risky than pharmaceuticals. Participants legitimised their medicinal cannabis use by emphasising its natural qualities and distancing themselves from problematic users or riskier substances. Cost barriers and a lack of healthcare professional communication impeded prescription access. Similarly, participants navigated medicinal cannabis use independently due to a lack of guidance from healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

Findings highlight the need for robust data regarding the harms and efficacy of medicinal cannabis and dissemination of such information among healthcare professionals and to patients who choose to use the substance. Ensuring healthcare professionals are equipped to provide non-judgmental and evidence-based guidance may mitigate potential safety and legal risks.

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Data availability

Due to the sensitive nature of the research and to protect participant privacy, data are not available.

Notes

  1. While penalties for possessing small amounts of cannabis for personal use without medical authorisation vary by state, a fine or diversion to a drug education program is common. The Australian Capital Territory is the only jurisdiction that does not apply a penalty [9].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Council SA, 202 Greenhill Road, Eastwood, SA, 5063, Australia

    Julia N. Morris

  2. William Angliss Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Jessica Loyer

  3. PsychMed SA, Adelaide, Australia

    Jason Blunt

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  1. Julia N. Morris
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  2. Jessica Loyer
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the student conception and design. Data collection was performed by JB. Data analysis was performed by JM and JL. The first draft of the manuscript was written by JM and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julia N. Morris.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

This study was granted ethics approval by Cancer Council Victoria’s Human Research Ethics Committee (#HREC2002) and conducted in accordance with Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2018).

Consent to participate

Written informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Morris, J.N., Loyer, J. & Blunt, J. Stigma, risks, and benefits of medicinal cannabis use among Australians with cancer. Support Care Cancer 32, 252 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08439-w

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