Exploring Medicinal Cannabis in Palliative Care
We invite healthcare professionals to take a moment to consider the potential of medicinal cannabis within comprehensive palliative care strategies. Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients facing life-threatening illnesses and their families through holistic symptom management and psychosocial support.1
Terminal illnesses often entail debilitating symptoms that can significantly impact patients' comfort and dignity in their final stages of life. Medicinal cannabis, with its analgesic, antiemetic, and anxiolytic properties, presents a valuable addition to the palliative care toolkit.2
Research suggests that cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, can effectively alleviate pain, reduce nausea and vomiting, stimulate appetite, and address psychological distress in patients receiving palliative care.3 Additionally, cannabis-based therapies offer a well-tolerated alternative or complement to conventional medications, providing personalised symptom relief tailored to individual patient needs.
Palliative Care Week serves as a poignant reminder for healthcare providers to explore all available avenues for optimising patient comfort and well-being. By incorporating discussions on medicinal cannabis into palliative care plans, healthcare professionals can offer comprehensive support to patients and families navigating end-of-life challenges.
- Rome RB, Luminais HH, Bourgeois DA, Blais CM. The role of palliative care at the end of life. Ochsner J. 2011;11(4):348-352.
- Institute of Medicine (US); Joy JE, Watson SJ Jr., Benson JA Jr., editors. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1999. 4, The Medical Value of Marijuana and Related Substances. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK230711/
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Guidance on the use of medicinal cannabis in the treatment of palliative care patients in Australia. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health; Version 1, December 2017. Available from: https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/guidance-use-medicinal-cannabis-treatment-palliative-care-patients-australia.pdf