Cannabis use among cancer patients is rapidly expanding in both popularity and complexity, creating exciting challenges and opportunities for oncology pharmacists. From understanding a growing variety of product types to interpreting evolving clinical evidence on symptom relief, drug interactions, and treatment outcomes, pharmacists areessential in ensuring safe, personalized patient care. In this episode, we reveal insights and practical tools to empower oncology pharmacists in assessing, counseling, and monitoring patients using cannabis. Discover how this emerging therapy is reshaping oncology practice and could become a game changer!

By the end of the podcast, listeners will be able to:

• Explain the rising use of recreational and medicinal cannabis among cancer patients and key reasons driving this trend.
• Recognize the diverse variety of cannabis product types and their relevance to oncology symptom management.
• Assess the potential impacts of cannabis on cancer treatments, including drug interactions, safety, and therapeutic outcomes.
• Summarize current clinical evidence and data for cannabis use in managing oncology-related symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, pain, insomnia, and appetite.
• Explore practical approaches for oncology pharmacists to evaluate, counsel, and monitor patients using cannabis, including developing a pharmacist-led consultation service.

Resource list:

1. Bar-Sela G et al. Cannabis Consumption Used by Cancer Patients During Immunotherapy Correlates with Poor Clinical Outcome. Cancers 12:2447, 2020.

2. Grimison P, et al. Oral THC:CBD Cannabis Extract for Refractory Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase IICrossover Trial. Ann Oncol. 2020 Nov;31(11):1553-1560.  Bar-Lev Schleider L, et al. Prospective Analysis of Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Large Unselected Population of Patients with Cancer. Euro J of Int Med. 2018 Mar;49:37-43.

3. Khoj L, et al. Effects of Cannabis Smoking on the Respiratory System: A State-of-the-Art Review. Respir Med. 2024 Jan;221:107494.

4. Lopera V, Rodríguez A, Amariles P. Clinical Relevance of Drug Interactions with Cannabis: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2022 Feb 22;11(5):1154

5. Sauer MA et al. Marijuana: Interaction with the Estrogen Receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 224:404-407, 1983.

6. Taha T et al. Cannabis Impacts Tumor Response Rate to Nivolumab in Patients with Advanced Malignancies. Oncologist 24:549, 2019.

7. Worster B, Hajjar ER, Handley N. Cannabis Use in Patients With Cancer: A Clinical Review. JCO Oncol Pract. 2022 Nov;18(11):743-749.