A survey of 237 adults receiving radiation therapy at an urban and a rural oncology practice in Kentucky found that many had used unprescribed medicinal cannabis for symptom management, according to a study in The Oncologist. In all, 121 participants (51%) reported lifetime use, and 35 (14.7%) reported recent use after their cancer diagnosis.

Users most often cited pain, nausea, anxiety and depression, and at least 80% reported symptom and quality-of-life improvement. Because the results are self-reported survey responses, they do not show that cannabis is effective. The authors noted limitations, including self-reported data and limited racial diversity among respondents.