What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Cancer, THC.

Where was this research published?

Published in Cancer causes & control : CCC on April 22, 2026.

Cannabis use among older cancer survivors reveals surprising similarities to general population

Q: What did this research study find?

This large-scale national survey examined **lifetime cannabis and psychedelic use patterns among U.S. adults aged 50 and older**, comparing those with and without a history of cancer. The study analyzed data from over 63,000 survey respondents from 2015-2022 and found that **cannabis use was remarka

Classic psychedelic and cannabis use among U.S. cancer survivors aged ≥ 50 years: nationally representative estimates by cancer type/site.

Cancer causes & control : CCC • April 22, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This large-scale national survey examined lifetime cannabis and psychedelic use patterns among U.S. adults aged 50 and older, comparing those with and without a history of cancer. The study analyzed data from over 63,000 survey respondents from 2015-2022 and found that cannabis use was remarkably similar between cancer survivors (41.6%) and non-cancer populations (42.6%), suggesting that a cancer diagnosis does not significantly alter overall cannabis use prevalence in this age group. However, cancer survivors showed modestly lower lifetime use of classic psychedelics (11.6%) compared to those without cancer (12.9%), with notable differences in combined cannabis and psychedelic co-use patterns.

A particularly important finding was that substance use patterns varied significantly depending on cancer type, with head and neck, cervical, and hepatobiliary/pancreatic cancer survivors showing the highest rates of combined cannabis and psychedelic use. The researchers noted that these differences became less statistically significant in more recent data (2021-2022), suggesting potential shifts in substance use trends. This research highlights that cancer survivors are not a monolithic group—their relationship with various substances, including cannabis, depends heavily on their specific cancer diagnosis and other individual factors.

The implications of these findings suggest that healthcare providers caring for older cancer survivors should recognize that cannabis use is common in this population and that use patterns may differ based on cancer type. The study demonstrates the importance of personalized medical approaches rather than assuming uniform substance use patterns across all cancer survivors, which could inform better patient counseling, symptom management discussions, and integration of cannabis into supportive care conversations.

📄 Original Abstract

To examine the prevalence of lifetime ("ever") cannabis and classic psychedelic use, and their co-use among U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years with versus without a lifetime history of cancer, and to describe variation by cancer type/site among survivors. We analyzed pooled 2015-2019 and 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data of U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years (Unweighted; n = 42,815 for 2015-2019; n = 21,144 for 2021-2022). Lifetime cannabis and classic psychedelic (LSD, psilocybin, peyote/mescaline) use and cancer history (physician-diagnosed, self-reported) were assessed. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% CIs were computed, and subgroup analyses by cancer type/site were conducted. Between 2015 and 2019, cannabis use was similar among cancer survivors (41.6%, 95% CI 40.0-43.2) and individuals without cancer (42.6%, 95% CI 42.0-43.2, p = 0.21). LSD (8.9, 95% CI 8.1-9.7 vs 10.3, 95% CI 9.8-10.8) and psilocybin (6.4, 95% CI 5.6-7.3 vs 7.7, 95% CI 7.4-8.1) were lower among cancer survivors. Any classic psychedelic use was 11.6% (95% CI 10.6-12.5) among cancer survivors versus 12.9% (95% CI 12.4-13.3) among those without cancer (p < 0.01). Lifetime use of both cannabis and classic psychedelics was lower in cancer survivors (11.2%, 95% CI 10.3-12.1) than in individuals without cancer (12.6%, 95% CI 12.2-13.1, p < 0.01). Between 2021 and 2022, overall group differences were not statistically significant. Across both periods, prevalence varied by cancer type/site, with head and neck, cervical, and hepatobiliary/pancreatic cancer survivors having the highest co-use. Lifetime cannabis, classic psychedelic, and co-use patterns showed modest differences by cancer history and meaningful variation across cancer type/site. Overall, these findings suggest that substance use patterns among cancer survivors are not uniform and may differ across survivor subgroups.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Cancer causes & control : CCC
Published: April 22, 2026
PMID: 42017992
DOI: 10.1007/s10552-026-02172-x

Authors (6)

Amrit Baral Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. abaral3@jh.edu.
Yue Pan Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
WayWay M Hlaing Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Albert Garcia-Romeu Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Paulo S Pinheiro Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
+1 more authors