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Purpose: Despite advances in supportive care, cancer-related symptoms tend to be persistent regardless of cancer type, stage of disease, or treatment received. There is an increasing prescription for complementary and alternative medicines, such as medical cannabis (MC). Knowledge and attitudes of Italian medical oncologists and palliative care physicians toward medical cannabis in cancer care remain unknown., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the knowledge and attitude toward MC prescription among cancer care professionals in Italy. All invited participants received an email with the electronic questionnaire accessible through a direct link., Results: Among the 2616 members who received the invitation, 475 replied to the questionnaire and were considered for the survey analysis. The most prescribed formulations among those available in Italy were cannabis FM2. The most frequent clinical indications for the use of MC were pain, gastrointestinal, and mood disorders. Only 9 responders reported MC-related side effects like anxiety insomnia and muscle spasms. The question regarding the normative references for MC prescription and use in Italy had conflicting results: only 14% indicated the exact legislative reference., Conclusion: Our study highlights a significant discrepancy between personal attitudes, prescription levels, and actual knowledge on MC. This represent a critical issue that should be systemically faced, building educational programs and national guidelines that sublimate personal physicians' beliefs and predispositions, resulting in a robust science-based MC practice. Only through coordinated interventions on science and health policy of MC, there will be success of safety and efficacy, ensuring the best knowledge for the best outcomes., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: In Italy medical cannabis is a prescription drug since 1998. Even though it could not be considered a therapy as such, it is indicated as a symptomatic treatment also in cancer patients, to cure iatrogenic nausea/vomiting and chronic pain., Patients and Methods: We conducted a knowledge survey about medical cannabis among cancer patients referred to two outpatient cancer care centers and a home care service., Results: From February to April 2018, 232 patient were enrolled; 210 patients were on active disease-oriented treatment (90.5%), while 22 (9.5%) not. Eighty-one percent of the patients have heard about medical cannabis, but only 2% from healthcare professionals. Thirty-four percent of responders thought about using cannabis to treat one or more of their own health problems, especially pain (55%). Despite that, 18% of the participants believe that medical cannabis could have negative effects on their own symptoms. Patients with high educational level better knew cannabis (odds ratio = 3.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-11.53), and medical cannabis (odds ratio = 3.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.48-6.98), when compared to patient with low educational level. Patients who were on active disease-oriented treatment better knew medical cannabis (odds ratio = 3.91; 95% confidence interval: 1.26-12.11) compared to "out of treatment" patients. Metastatic patients were less informed about medical cannabis compared to patients on adjuvant treatment., Conclusions: Our survey shows that most of Italian cancer patients know medical cannabis and a third of them have considered using cannabis to treat one (or more) of their own health problems. In the same time, they are poorly informed and do not tend to ask for information about medical cannabis to healthcare professionals.