Evaluating racial disparities in cancer patient-provider communication about cannabis in a state without a legal cannabis marketplace.

Purpose: Cancer survivors in a state with no legal access to cannabis may be hesitant to discuss their cannabis use with providers, particularly in light of legal consequences which disproportionately affect certain racial groups. This study examined potential racial disparities in the relationship of cannabis use status with patient-provider discussions of and attitudes toward cannabis in a state where there is no legal cannabis marketplace.

Methods: Survivors of cancer (N = 1003, M_age = 62.36; 13% Black/African-American; 41% male) completed a cross-sectional survey. Weight-adjusted regressions examined racial differences in the relationship between cannabis use status with (a) comfort and discussion of cannabis with providers, and (b) beliefs about impact of legalization on patients' and providers' comfort discussing cannabis.

Results: No racial differences were observed in rates of cannabis use or discussion, and patients who used cannabis were more comfortable discussing cannabis. Black patients who had used cannabis reported the greatest comfort discussing cannabis with providers, but also the greatest perceived improvement in comfort in the event of legalization.

Conclusions: Results highlight comfort and willingness to discuss cannabis with cancer care providers, particularly among Black patients who already use cannabis, which was not the hypothesized direction of findings. Further work is needed to inform recommendations for provider-led communication about cannabis.