Cannabis in Hematology Survey Study (CHESS): A Longitudinal Investigation on Uses, Attitudes, and Outcomes of Cannabis Among Hematology Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Cancer patients use cannabis for medicinal purposes; however, few studies have examined hematology patients’ use of cannabis and no research to our knowledge has investigated the use of cannabis amongst hematology patients before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). The purpose of this longitudinal survey study was to assess aspects of cannabis use in patients who underwent HCT. Eligible patients ( N = 30) completed two surveys before and 90 days following their HCT. The surveys inquired about several aspects of cannabis (e.g., rate of use, beliefs and attitudes, access to information) and physical and psychological outcomes (e.g., anxiety, comorbidities, graft-versus-host-disease). Rates of cannabis use decreased following HCT ( n = 14, 46% to n = 11, 40%). Conversations on cannabis that were initiated by an oncology health care provider increased post-transplant ( n = 3, 10% to n = 11, 37%). This coincided with fewer who were smoking cannabis as a primary consumption method ( n = 5, 38 to n = 2, 18) and an increase in the use of pharmaceutical cannabinoid products ( n = 4, 13% to n = 6, 21%) as well as oils and topicals. Of the total sample, 63% ( n = 17) experienced post-treatment complications and 33% ( n = 10) developed GVHD, six of whom where recent cannabis users. This study provided insight into cannabis use amongst HCT patients and warrants further research with this population, including more exploration of the relationship between GVHD and cannabis.