Review of the Use of Medicinal Cannabis Products in Palliative Care

Simple Summary Symptom management is a key goal of palliative cancer care. There is growing interest in the use of cannabis-based medicines or products for the management of physical and psychosocial symptoms associated with cancer or cancer treatment, including pain, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, and mood disorders. However, research on medical uses of cannabis has been limited because of legal restrictions and stigma. The goal of this review is to explore the potential role of cannabis and cannabinoids in the management of cancer-related symptoms. Limited evidence suggests that cannabis may improve cancer-related pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, appetite and chemosensory changes, insomnia, and mood disorders; however, cannabis is associated with several neuropsychiatric and systemic adverse effects and drug interactions.Abstract In this review, we discuss the potential role of cannabis and cannabinoids in the management of cancer-related symptoms. There is limited evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of cannabis-based products in treating cancer-related pain and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Regarding the role of cannabis-based products in the treatment of insomnia and mood disorders, most studies looked at these symptoms as secondary outcomes with mixed results. Cannabis-based products have adverse effects, ranging from neuropsychiatric to systemic effects to potential drug interactions.