About a quarter of cancer patients surveyed at the Penn State Cancer Institute had used cannabis since their diagnosis, and most of those users reported improvement in symptoms including insomnia, appetite, mood and cancer-related pain, according to a study published in Supportive Care in Cancer on October 9. Of 186 patients who completed an anonymous survey in 2023 and 2024, 26.1% had used cannabis after diagnosis, with similar rates among rural and urban or suburban patients.

Among users, 30.1% said they had used cannabis instead of opioids to manage pain. The researchers note that the single-site survey relied on self-reported data, did not distinguish product type or dose, and cannot show cause and effect. They call for clinical trials of quality-controlled cannabis products to clarify benefits and risks.