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Marijuana use among US adults with cancer: findings from the 2018–2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

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Journal of Cancer Survivorship Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of current marijuana use and to identify the factors associated with its use among US adults with cancer living in 17 US states and territories.

Methods

Data from the 2018–2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Marijuana Use module were analyzed. The analytic sample included 13,174 adults with cancer. The primary outcome was current marijuana use. Weighted, multivariable logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic, health, and healthcare factors associated with marijuana use.

Results

Overall, 9.2% of adult cancer survivors (n = 13,174; weighted 5.7 million) reported marijuana current use, 51.3% of whom used it for medical reasons only, with 65.2% reporting smoking as the main method of administration. Adult cancer survivors were significantly more likely to use marijuana if they were younger (odds ratio [OR] for 55–64 years old, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38–0.93, vs. 18–44); male (OR for female, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48–0.87, vs. male); non-Hispanic black (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.21–3.33; P < 0.01, vs. non-Hispanic white); living with depression (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.17–2.14); and current (OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 2.20–4.74) or former tobacco smoker (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.70–3.38, vs. never smoker) and binge drinker (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.53–3.29, vs. non-binge drinker).

Conclusions

Among a large cohort of US adults with cancer, marijuana use was commonly reported, and certain subgroups were at increased likelihood of marijuana use.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Health professionals should identify the risk factors for marijuana use, especially as more states legalize medical and recreational marijuana use.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 201 E. Madison Street, Springfield, IL, USA

    Minjee Lee & Wiley Jenkins

  2. Simons Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA

    Minjee Lee, Dale Buck Hales & Arun Sharma

  3. Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Ramzi G. Salloum

  4. Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA

    Arun Sharma

Authors
  1. Minjee Lee
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  2. Ramzi G. Salloum
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  3. Wiley Jenkins
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  4. Dale Buck Hales
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  5. Arun Sharma
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Contributions

ML developed the research question, performed the analysis, and drafted the manuscript. All authors interpreted the data and participated in the design and planning of the study. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Minjee Lee.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Lee, M., Salloum, R.G., Jenkins, W. et al. Marijuana use among US adults with cancer: findings from the 2018–2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. J Cancer Surviv 17, 1161–1170 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-021-01138-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-021-01138-z

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