Cannabis Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: A Scoping Review

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-5-2025

Journal

Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education

DOI

10.1007/s13187-025-02693-0

Keywords

Adolescents; Cancer; Cannabis; Substance use; Young adults

Abstract

There have been recent increases in cannabis use for medical and non-medical (i.e., "recreational") purposes. One prominent medical use is for cancer-related symptoms. Young adults with a cancer history may have unique cannabis use characteristics, yet little research has examined this topic. This scoping review assessed the literature on cannabis use among young adults with a history of cancer. In October 2024, we conducted a MEDLINE/PubMed search for empirical, peer-reviewed articles written in English. Inclusion criteria were (1) primary research, (2) included participants ages 18-39 previously diagnosed with cancer, (3) included data on cannabis use, and (4) written in English. This review included 15 articles, which varied in timing of cancer diagnosis (e.g., childhood, adolescence, young adulthood) and age at data collection (e.g., 15-25, 18-39). Most (n = 11) were cross-sectional survey studies; others were longitudinal (n = 2), observational (n = 1), or chart reviews (n = 1). Results varied regarding cannabis use prevalence among cancer survivors compared to peers without a cancer diagnosis, as well as whether certain treatment-related factors were associated with use. Several studies documented medical use motives (e.g., nausea, pain, insomnia, mood), with some indication of effectiveness. Existing research has largely focused on medical use and use during treatment; less research has assessed use outside of cancer treatment or for non-medical reasons among individuals with a cancer diagnosis. Young adults with a cancer history may have unique cannabis use characteristics given their likely use for both medical and non-medical purposes.

Department

Prevention and Community Health

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