Marijuana use among cancer survivors: Quantifying prevalence and identifying predictors

Abstract

Introduction: More and more U.S. states are legalizing marijuana use for both recreational and medical purposes. This study estimated the prevalence of current marijuana use and identified its individual-level predictors among adult cancer survivors (CS) living in 15 U.S. states and territories. Methods: U.S. nationally representative, cross-sectional data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS) Marijuana Use module were used. A total of 9325 CS was included. Analyses were weighted to account for BRFSS's complex survey design with results generalizable to 4.02 million CS. The outcome was current (past 30-day) marijuana use. Weighted prevalence estimates were computed. Multivariable logistic regression examined individual-level demographic, socio-economic, clinical, and behavioral predictors associated with marijuana use. Results: Weighted analysis indicated that 9.2% reported current marijuana use, 50.5% of which used it for medical reasons with smoking being the main method of administration, 71.3%. Among racial/ethnic groups, non-Hispanic blacks had the highest prevalence of marijuana use (18.6%). The prevalence of current marijuana use decreased with age (P