Medicinal cannabis use in palliative care

Abstract

Background Legislative change in recent years allows the prescription of medicinal cannabis for patients receiving palliative care. There appears to be widespread community support of its use in this context. Objective The aim of this article is to provide an overview of current research on the use of medicinal cannabis within the palliative care context for both children and adults. Discussion The evidence needed to support the use of medicinal cannabis for symptom control is limited and still emerging. It is unlikely that medicinal cannabis will be used as a first-line agent for the management of pain, nausea and other specific symptoms, but it may have an adjuvant or complementary role in symptom management within palliative care. Consistent with the Therapeutic Goods Administration advice, these authors recommend that general practitioners encourage patients to participate in trials or programs that objectively monitor benefit and toxicity of medicinal cannabis.