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Published on: August 1, 2025

Cannabis Use among People Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis with Chronic Pain

Jennifer S Scherer1, Wenbo Wu2, James B Wetmore3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Kidney360
|June 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Sixteen percent of hemodialysis patients use cannabis, often younger, unmarried individuals using other substances. Cannabis use did not affect intervention outcomes in this chronic pain population.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Pain Management
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cannabis legalization may increase use in hemodialysis patients, especially those with chronic pain.
  • Limited data exist on cannabis use frequency and associated factors in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency and factors associated with cannabis use among hemodialysis patients.
  • To investigate if cannabis use modifies the response to a cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for chronic pain.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary analysis of the HOPE Consortium Trial data.
  • Examined baseline characteristics, pain, and cannabis use in 643 hemodialysis patients.
  • Used multivariable logistic and linear regression to analyze associations and intervention modification.

Main Results:

  • 16% of participants reported current cannabis use.
  • Current users were younger, more likely to be disabled, have longer dialysis history, report psychological disorders, and less likely to be married.
  • Current smoking, alcohol use, age, relationship status, segregation index, and cocaine/heroin use were associated with cannabis use. Cannabis use did not modify intervention response.

Conclusions:

  • Cannabis use is prevalent in 16% of hemodialysis patients, associated with specific demographic and substance use profiles.
  • Cannabis use did not impact the effectiveness of the cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for pain.
  • Further research is necessary to understand the consequences of cannabis use in the hemodialysis population.
Abstract

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