What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Cancer.

Where was this research published?

Published in Substance use & misuse on September 8, 2026.

Young cancer survivors describe cannabis access and care gaps

Q: What did this research study find?

The qualitative interviews identified **legal context as an important influence** on access to and use of *medical cannabis* among young adult cancer survivors.

Cannabis Use Among US Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Impacts of Legal Context, Information Sources, and Interactions with Healthcare Providers.

Substance use & misuse • September 8, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This qualitative study examined how medical cannabis use is shaped by laws, information sources, and healthcare interactions among 23 US young adult cancer survivors aged 18–39 who reported using cannabis in the past month. Interviews conducted in 2025 explored cannabis access, communication with providers, symptoms or conditions participants sought to manage, and their views of cannabis compared with other options. The study did not include a comparison group or test a treatment intervention.

Participants described state legal status as either facilitating or restricting access to medical cannabis. They commonly relied on dispensaries, social networks, and their own research or experimentation for information. Experiences with healthcare providers varied, including limited discussion, provider hesitancy, supportive conversations, contradictory information, and concerns about stigma; many participants wanted more shared decision-making. The abstract reports perceived usefulness for managing symptoms, but provides no quantitative estimate of effectiveness. As an interview-based study of a selected group of young adult cancer survivors who already used cannabis, it cannot establish that cannabis caused symptom improvements, determine which symptoms respond best, or represent all cancer survivors. This is an abstract-based summary, not a full-text review.

💡 Key Findings

The qualitative interviews identified legal context as an important influence on access to and use of medical cannabis among young adult cancer survivors.

Good

70%

Participants often relied on dispensaries, social networks, and personal research or experimentation for cannabis information, suggesting fragmented access to evidence-based guidance.

Good

70%

Healthcare communication varied widely, from little discussion and provider hesitancy to support, contradictory information, and stigma concerns; participants expressed interest in shared decision-making.

High

80%

Participants described perceived usefulness of medical cannabis for managing symptoms, but the abstract provides no quantitative measure of effectiveness and cannot establish causation.

High

85%

📄 Original Abstract

BACKGROUND: Given the increasing prevalence of young adult (YA) cannabis use and medical cannabis (MC) use, which is particularly relevant to cancer-related symptoms, we examined MC use and related factors among YA cancer survivors (ages 18-39). METHODS: In 2025, we conducted qualitative interviews with 23 YA survivors reporting past-month cannabis use (Mage=33.65 ± 5.99, 73.9% female, 73.9% White, M = 1.22 ± 1.09 years post-treatment), assessing: implications of cannabis legalization, MC information sources, healthcare provider interactions, and symptoms/conditions MC managed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: During treatment, 56.5% lived in states with MC-only legal and 34.8% fully legal cannabis; at time of interview, 21.7% lived in states with MC-only and 73.9% fully legal. Themes included: (1) importance of legal context in facilitating or impeding MC access/use; (2) reliance on dispensaries, social networks, and personal research/experimentation for MC information; (3) varied experiences communicating with healthcare providers (little communication, provider hesitancy, providers supporting MC use, contradictory information, stigma-related concerns, desiring shared healthcare decision-making); (4) conditions/symptoms managed and effectiveness; (5) hopes future healthcare better incorporates MC; and (6) concerns/cautions about MC use vs. alternatives. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight MC's perceived utility in managing symptoms among YA cancer survivors, alongside fragmented policies/systems impeding evidence-based information or healthcare provider input.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Substance use & misuse
Published: September 8, 2026
PMID: 42711279
DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2026.2724154

Authors (7)

Carla J Berg Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Darcey M McCready Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Laura C Schubel Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Darby Mihelich Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Miranda Johnson Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
+2 more authors