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

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.