Cannabis Use Among US Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Impacts of Legal Context, Information Sources, and Interactions with Healthcare Providers.

BACKGROUND: Given the increasing prevalence of young adult (YA) cannabis use and medical cannabis (MC) use, which is particularly relevant to cancer-related symptoms, we examined MC use and related factors among YA cancer survivors (ages 18-39). METHODS: In 2025, we conducted qualitative interviews with 23 YA survivors reporting past-month cannabis use (Mage=33.65 ± 5.99, 73.9% female, 73.9% White, M = 1.22 ± 1.09 years post-treatment), assessing: implications of cannabis legalization, MC information sources, healthcare provider interactions, and symptoms/conditions MC managed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: During treatment, 56.5% lived in states with MC-only legal and 34.8% fully legal cannabis; at time of interview, 21.7% lived in states with MC-only and 73.9% fully legal. Themes included: (1) importance of legal context in facilitating or impeding MC access/use; (2) reliance on dispensaries, social networks, and personal research/experimentation for MC information; (3) varied experiences communicating with healthcare providers (little communication, provider hesitancy, providers supporting MC use, contradictory information, stigma-related concerns, desiring shared healthcare decision-making); (4) conditions/symptoms managed and effectiveness; (5) hopes future healthcare better incorporates MC; and (6) concerns/cautions about MC use vs. alternatives. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight MC's perceived utility in managing symptoms among YA cancer survivors, alongside fragmented policies/systems impeding evidence-based information or healthcare provider input.