Use of Medical Cannabis in Palliative & Supportive Care

Abstract

The need for palliative care is increasing rapidly in the context of an aging population and where 75% of deaths are caused by chronic and progressive diseases. In general, people with terminal illnesses experience a significant burden of symptoms that often increases in severity over time. In contemporary studies, patients report 8-12 symptoms, with fatigue, pain, anorexia, cachexia, shortness of breath, anxiety and depression being particularly common.