Medical Cannabis Formulations, Administration Routes, and Dosing - Perspectives of Patients With Cancer Who Consume

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk

Purpose: Medical cannabis (MC) is used by one in three cancer patients, yet research suggests a gap between patients’ real-world cannabis practices and oncologists’ clinical preferences. This qualitative study examines patients’ preferences regarding MC formulations, administration routes, and dosing. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with cancer patients consuming MC across eight states and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings and implications focus on variation, dosing imprecision, and the need for education and standardization.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Findings

Implications

Introduction

Background on medical cannabis in cancer care

Evidence gaps and related risks

Author Manuscr ipt Author Manuscr ipt Author Manuscr ipt Author Manuscript | | HHS Public Access
Author manuscript
Clin Ther. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2026 January 08. | | --- | --- | Published in final edited form as: Clin Ther. 2026 January ; 48(1): 51–56. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2025.11.004 . Medical Cannabis Formulations, Administration Routes, and Dosing: Perspectives of Patients With Cancer Who Consume Manan M. Nayak, PhD, MA 1,2,6,†,* , Peter R. Chai, MD, MS 1,3,4,5,8,†, Stephanie Tung, MD 1,9 , Anna Revette, PhD7 , Ilana M. Braun, MD9 1 Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 2The Phyllis F. Cantor Center Research, Department of Nursing and Patient Care Services, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 3 Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 4The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 5The Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 6 Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 7 Department of Population Sciences, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 8 Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 9 Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Abstract Purpose: Medical cannabis (MC) is used by 1 in 3 patients with cancer. Scientific work suggests a disconnect between patients’ cannabis therapeutics practices and oncologists’ clinical preferences. This qualitative study explores the preferences of patients with cancer as they relate to MC formulations, administration routes, and dosing. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients with cancer consuming MC in 8 states and examined using thematic analysis. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)) *Address correspondence to: Manan M. Nayak, PhD, MA, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber C†anceThes Inautituhorec, 50ntriBrookbutednequaAllvyentoueth-iBsPw14rk5, Boston, [MA 02215. manan_nayak@dfci.harvard.edu](MA 02215. manan_nayak@dfci.harvard.edu) (M.M. Nayak). Author Contributions Ilana M. Braun conceived the study. Ilana M. Braun and Manan M. Nayak were the project managers. Ilana M. Braun, Manan M. Nayak, and Peter R. Chai assisted with study design and study methodologies. Ilana M. Braun, Manan M. Nayak, and Peter R. Chai implemented and investigated this study. All analyses were conceived and performed by Anna Revette, Manan M. Nayak, Peter R. Chai, and Ilana M. Braun. Manan M. Nayak, Peter R. Chai, and Ilana M. Braun wrote the first draft of the paper. Manan M. Nayak and Ilana M. Braun reviewed and edited the paper. All authors reviewed the paper and made key intellectual contributions to content and reporting and approved the final manuscript. Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts to disclose. Author Manuscr ipt Author Manuscr ipt Author Manuscr ipt Author Manuscript Nayak et al. Page 2 Findings: Among study participants (N = 24), the mean age was 54 years, 67% were female, and 51% had metastatic disease. A powerful theme identified across interviews was of myriad MC dispensary product formulations, triggering astonishment and burden. Common strategies among participants included purchasing and sampling multiple store-bought formulations, modifying dispensary products, and altering intended routes of administration. Preferred dispensary products were not consistently available. Top-cited modes of administration included oral, followed by topical, sublingual, vaporization, combustion, and rectal suppository. Three-quarters of participants alternated between modes. Medical cannabis dosing imprecision represe

FAQs

What was the purpose of the qualitative study on medical cannabis (MC) in cancer care?

The study aimed to explore cancer patients’ preferences for MC formulations, administration routes, and dosing, in light of a disconnect between patients’ practices and oncologists’ preferences.

How were participants and data collected for the study?

Semistructured interviews were conducted with cancer patients consuming MC in eight states, and the transcripts were examined using thematic analysis.

What were the key findings about administration routes and dosing among participants?

Participants reported varied product formulations and multiple administration routes, with oral use followed by topical, sublingual, vaporization, combustion, and rectal suppository. Many participants alternated modes, and dosing imprecision emerged as a major theme due to limited dispensary quality assurance and home measurement accuracy.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk