New research highlights patient-reported benefits, differences between rural and urban cannabis use, and questions about access to medical guidance.

More than half of cancer patients surveyed at two Kentucky radiation oncology clinics reported using cannabis medicinally without a prescription, according to a new study published October 7 in The Oncologist.

The research offers insight into how patients manage cancer-related symptoms, while identifying differences in cannabis use between rural and urban communities.

Researchers from the University of Kentucky surveyed 237 adults receiving radiation therapy between July 2023 and February 2024. Participants received care at an urban oncology practice or a rural satellite clinic.

Of those surveyed, 121 patients, or 51%, reported having used cannabis medicinally without a prescription at some point in their lives.

Patients most commonly identified pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, poor appetite and sleep disturbances as reasons for use.

Among cannabis users, at least 80% reported improvements in symptoms and quality of life.

These findings reflect patient-reported experiences, not independently verified clinical outcomes. The study did not establish that cannabis caused the reported improvements.

Rural patients and access to care

Researchers also identified geographic differences. Patients reporting recent cannabis use were more likely to live in urban communities than rural areas.

The findings raise questions about patient access to cannabis-related healthcare, particularly as Kentucky implements its medical cannabis program.

   

Under Kentucky’s medical cannabis law, KRS 218B.050, patients must complete an initial in-person examination with an authorized practitioner before receiving a medical cannabis certification.

The Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis allows subsequent certifications, including renewals, through telehealth with the same practitioner. However, patients cannot establish the initial qualifying relationship remotely.

For rural patients undergoing cancer treatment, traveling to an additional medical appointment may present challenges involving transportation, expense, mobility and time.

Telehealth could help reduce some of those barriers while preserving medical oversight and opportunities to discuss potential drug interactions.

Importantly, the study surveyed patients before Kentucky’s medical cannabis program began in January 2025. Researchers did not examine whether certification requirements influenced cannabis use or explain the urban-rural disparity.

Understanding patient needs

The findings highlight the importance of communication between patients and healthcare providers about cannabis use, particularly during cancer treatment.

Cannabis is not an established cancer cure, and products may interact with medications or cause adverse effects.

The study’s authors concluded that unprescribed medicinal cannabis use was common across demographic groups and primarily directed toward symptom management.

As medical cannabis programs develop, the research offers another consideration for healthcare providers and policymakers: understanding not only why patients seek cannabis, but whether they can access qualified medical guidance when making those decisions.