Medical marijuana is “commonly” used to treat symptoms of cancer such as pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, poor appetite and sleep disturbance, according to a new study—and 80 percent of patients report that it provides relief and improved quality of life.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky conducted a study that surveyed 237 adult patients receiving radiation therapy in either an urban or rural oncology clinic in Kentucky. The paper describes Kentucky as “a geographical area with a high prevalence of narcotic use.”
Researchers found that about half (51%) of patients had used marijuana in the past. They also noted that the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes was widespread across all demographic groups, and was mostly aimed at symptom relief.
After a cancer diagnosis, the majority of patients in our study reported an improvement in symptoms as well as quality of life metrics.
The National Cancer Institute supported the study and published it in The Oncologist. The study found that recent medicinal cannabis users reported symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, insomnia problems, anxiety and stress, depression, poor eating habits, desire for pleasure (high), confusion, weight loss and a desire to fight their cancer.
Pain, nausea, depression and anxiety are the most common symptoms that lead to cannabis use.
Eighty-five percent of patients felt at least “a bit better” regarding their main identified symptoms as a result from medical cannabis use. Twenty percent reported that there was “no difference.”
On the other hand, 11 percent reported “no change” in their quality of life.
Users most commonly reported using cannabis for pain, nausea and anxiety. They also reported that it helped with depression and poor appetite. At least 80% of users reported improvement in symptoms and quality of life.
On average, patients who use medical marijuana have higher pain scores than their counterparts who don’t.
“This could mean that patients who have tried traditional pain-relieving measures and failed, or do not have adequate access to doctors to help them manage their condition, may turn to self prescribed medicinal cannabis to relieve their symptoms,” wrote the authors.
The study revealed that the use of medical cannabis was higher among the patients at the treatment center in the city (21%) than the one in the countryside (9%)
The study concluded, “Cannabis could be an adjunct treatment for cancer-related symptom such as pain relief, nausea, anxiety or appetite loss. Especially when conventional treatments fail to provide enough relief, are poorly tolerated or are difficult access.” We found that patients self-prescribe medicinal cannabis in order to alleviate symptoms associated with cancer or cancer treatment, and they perceive this use to be effective.
Researchers warned that this study was limited by the fact that it relied solely on self reported data. They also noted that respondents did not represent a diverse range of races and that the survey instrument had not been validated.
This new study is the latest in a long line of studies that show medical marijuana can help cancer patients.
For example, a recent federally funded study found that “cannabis use conferred therapeutic benefits for several health issues commonly encountered by cancer patients”—including “pain relief, improved sleep, physical relaxation, emotional regulation, and reduction of concomitant medication.”
Another recent study conducted by Minnesota state officials found that medical marijuana appears to help cancer patients by decreasing pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety and depression while also improving sleep.
A separate study found that nearly one in five cancer survivors say they’ve used CBD after getting their diagnosis—primarily to manage pain, sleep difficulties and emotional distress. Over half of those who used CBD for specific symptoms reported benefit.
Another recent study determined that medical marijuana extracts “meaningfully” improve cancer-related symptoms such as sleep difficulties and anxiety—though responses varied among patients depending on personal preferences for individual cannabinoid content of the extracts.
Researchers separately found that components of marijuana show “consistent and statistically significant anti-tumor effects” in certain types of cancer, including glioblastoma and breast cancer. The study also revealed that cannabinoids appear to “enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy.”
Another systemic review concluded that studies “consistently show” that the CBD is a potential “anticancer agent across different cancer types”—and that effect applies to dogs as well as humans.
A similar analysis showed that CBD “holds substantial promise as an anti-tumor agent” in addition to its other anti-inflammatory properties.
Scientists explored CBD’s effect on many types of cancer—including some of the most aggressive ones, such as glioblastoma, which affects the brain. The researchers also found that CBD can suppress the growth and spread of cancers such as breast, lung colorectal ovarian prostate and other types.
In 2025, a paper published in the journal Pharmacology & Therapeutics, assessed a range of clinical and preclinical findings that the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced by medical marijuana.
In a sign of greater acceptance of medical applications of cannabis, President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as the next White House drug czar has called medical marijuana a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill patients and said she doesn’t object to legalization, even if she might not personally agree with the policy.
Also last year, a study found that “patients with cancer using cannabis report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms.”
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